Botanical name : Crocus sativus Linn.
Family : Iridaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Kunkuma
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Katu
Guna : Lakhu
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Saffron
Hindi : Kesar
Malayalam : Kunkumapoov, Kunkumam
Distribution – Cultivated in Kashmir, and other Himalayan peninsula in India
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A perennial herb grows up to 10-25 cm in height. Leaves narrow linear; flowers reddish blue, with fragrance, stigmas orange colored fruits capsules. The dried stigmas are used commercially as saffron.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated tridosha, cough, fever, hepatomegaly, skin diseases, and hyper-melanosis of skin.
Useful part : Dried stigmas
Photo: www.flickr.com