Responding to Julia Feise's discussion of Crocus oreocreticus, whose habitat is endangered by increased cultivation on Crete: I haven't ever heard of its stigmas being used as culinary saffron. However, I would say to Julia, don't despair that this population is lost forever. C. oreocreticus, at least those I grow here (which were grown about 15 years ago from originally wild-collected seeds), sets plenty of large, heavy seeds which germinate readily. Even if the field was tilled at a time when the corms of this crocus (which makes a few large offsets rather than a lot of little ones) were vulnerable to destruction, there is probably a large "bank" of seeds in the soil which may germinate and become flowering plants in 3 or 4 years. If, that is, the tilling isn't repeated annually (unlikely). The excessive chemical fertilizer application that is endangering orchid populations on Crete will not harm the crocuses; in fact, it'll probably encourage them. The question is whether they can grow among rank exotic pasture grass that has been seeded into the area. Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA