Crocus sativus, unknown as a wild plant, is considered to be a mutant that has derived from C.cartwrightianus. The cultivated clone was probably lected for its triploid vigour and extra long stigmas and has been maintained in Cultivation for over 3000 years. The saffron crocus (Crocus sativus L.) is sterile and does not set viable seed. Therefore, the crop must be propagated by corm multiplication. The saffron crocus flowers in autumn shortly after planting, before, together with or after leaf appearance. The remainder of its growing season consists of initiation, filling up, and maturation of the daughter corms at the beginning of summer. Each corm only lasts a single season and is replaced by 1 to 10 cormlets, depending on the original size of the mother cormse.