Saffron
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Song 4:14)—the fragrant garden plant *Crocus sativus*. Its violet flowers bear three orange-red stigmas, which are dried to produce saffron. The spice and dye were highly valued in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East and were used in perfume, food, medicine, and coloring. The source’s description of harvesting in Egypt and southern Europe reflects nineteenth-century botany and trade.