In Classical mythology, Krokus was a mortal man who, unhappy with his love
affair with Smilax, was turned by the gods into a plant bearing his name: the
crocus Saffron. Smilax is believed to have been given a similar fate and was
transformed into bindweed. In one variation of the myth, Krokus was said to
be a companion of Mercury and was accidentally killed by the god in a game of
discus. Mercury was so distraught at this that he transformed Krokus' body into
a flower.