Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus, a species of crocus in the family Iridaceae. The flower's three stigmas (the distal ends of the plant's carpels) and parts of its style (a stalk connecting the stigmas to the rest of the plant) are often dried and used in cooking as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, which has for decades been the world's most expensive spice by weight, was first cultivated in the vicinity of Greece. Saffron is characterised by a bitter taste and an iodoform- or hay-like fragrance; these are caused by the chemicals picrocrocin and safranal. It also contains a carotenoid dye, crocin, that gives food a rich golden-yellow hue. These qualities make saffron a much sought-after ingredient in many foods worldwide. Saffron also has medicinal applications. The word saffron originated from the 12th century Old French term safran, which derives from the Latin word safranum.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1854: Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy signed the Treaty of Kanagawa, forcing the opening of Japanese ports to American trade. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Perry_%28naval_officer%29)

1889: The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated in Paris. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower)

1903: New Zealand inventor Richard Pearse reportedly flew in one of the first flying machines. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pearse)

1917: The Danish West Indies became the U.S. Virgin Islands after the United States paid Denmark US$25 million for the Caribbean islands. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Virgin_Islands)

1930: Hollywood movie studios instituted the Production Code to avoid government censorship. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_Code)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"When we are really honest with ourselves we must admit that our lives are all that really belong to us. So, it is how we use our lives that determines what kind of men we are. It is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life." -- Cesar Chavez (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez)