Changes

<ref>http://www.greekproducts.com/greekproducts/saffron/index.html</ref>

<ref>http://www.greekproducts.com/greekproducts/saffron/index.html</ref>

and two stamen.  

and two stamen.  

<ref>http://www.bikudo.com/product_search/details/34416/crocus_sativus_kashmiri_saffron.html</ref> Saffron must be harvested at dawn, or early morning before the sun gets strong, before the pollen on the stigma has dried. Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. <ref>http://www.bikudo.com/product_search/details/34416/crocus_sativus_kashmiri_saffron.html#desc</ref>Currently, weight for weight, it is more expensive than gold.

<ref>http://www.bikudo.com/product_search/details/34416/crocus_sativus_kashmiri_saffron.html</ref> Saffron must be harvested at dawn, or early morning before the sun gets strong, before the pollen on the stigma has dried. It is estimated that one pound of saffron consists of about 225,000 to 500,000 dried stigmas and requires the picking by hand of 75,000 flowers, <ref>http://www.bolokids.com/2006/0271.htm</ref>one reason that Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. <ref>http://www.bikudo.com/product_search/details/34416/crocus_sativus_kashmiri_saffron.html#desc</ref> Currently, weight for weight, it is more expensive than gold.  

 

[[Iran]] produces the highest amount of Saffron, about 120-140 tons per year. <ref>http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3201/pdf/i4.pdf</ref> [[Spain]] produces around 2 tons of saffron per year and processes about 40-50 percent of saffron from Iran. <ref>http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20050724072958</ref>  

[[Iran]] produces the highest amount of Saffron, about 120-140 tons per year. <ref>http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3201/pdf/i4.pdf</ref> [[Spain]] produces around 2 tons of saffron per year and processes about 40-50 percent of saffron from Iran. <ref>http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20050724072958</ref>  

Other countries that produce Saffron include: [[Greece]], <ref>http://www.greekproducts.com/greekproducts/saffron/index.html</ref> Turkey, Kashmir, <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/04/travel/fare-of-the-country-saffron-kashmir-s-pot-of-gold.html</ref> [[India]], [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Afghanistan]], <ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/01/MNA415A7UB.DTL&type=printable</ref> and [[Morocco]]. <ref>http://www.bacstrom.com/saffron.html</ref>  

Other countries that produce Saffron include: [[Greece]], <ref>http://www.greekproducts.com/greekproducts/saffron/index.html</ref> Turkey, Kashmir, <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/04/travel/fare-of-the-country-saffron-kashmir-s-pot-of-gold.html</ref> [[India]], [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Afghanistan]], <ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/01/MNA415A7UB.DTL&type=printable</ref> and [[Morocco]]. <ref>http://www.bacstrom.com/saffron.html</ref>