crocus vs saffron

crocus

noun
  • Any of various similar flowering plants, such as the autumn crocus and prairie crocus. 

  • A perennial flowering plant (of the genus Crocus in the Iridaceae family). Saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus. 

  • Burlap. 

saffron

noun
  • The plant Crocus sativus, a crocus. 

  • An orange-yellow colour, the colour of a lion's pelt. 

  • A spice (seasoning) and colouring agent made from the stigma and part of the style of the plant, sometimes or formerly also used as a dye and insect repellent. 

adj
  • Having an orange-yellow colour. 

verb
  • To add saffron to (a food), for taste, colour etc. 

  • To dye (a fabric, garment, etc.) with a saffron-based dye. 

  • To give a saffron colour to (something). 

  • To colour (a metal or wooden surface) with a gilding product containing saffron. 

  • To embellish. 

How often have the words crocus and saffron occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )