Saffron is a monomorphic species as revealed by RAPD, ISSR and . . . The domesticated saffron (Crocus sativus) is an autumn-flowering perennial plant unknown in the wild It is a sterile triploid form, possibly of the eastern Mediterranean autumn-flowering C cartwrightianus, which originated in Crete, or in Central Asia Mainly used as a colorant for foodstuffs, it is characterized by a bitter taste and a hay-like fragrance; due to the presence of picrocrocin