Many trivia fans know that the condiment saffron comes from a species of crocus – from its dried stigma specifically. Only about 300 tons of saffron are produced annually; over 90 percent of that comes from Iran. It takes some 50,000 flowers to produce just one pound of saffron, which helps to explain why the retail cost of a pound of saffron in the U.S. is around $1,000.

Some of the records cited in the new 2009 edition of the Guinness World Records book: Samuel L. Jackson is the Highest Grossing Actor, with his 68 films taking in over $7 billion worldwide; at 91.3 inches, the Longest Dog is an Irish wolfhound; 105-year-old Edith Gulliford is the Oldest Bridesmaid; and 61 journalists attended the Largest Underwater Press Conference.

The correct term for a resident of the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts is:
A) Caper
B) Coddian
C) Cape Codder
D) Coddie

Previous answer: According to "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows," the longest-running nighttime broadcast network TV series (excluding movies and newscasts) is NBC's "The Tonight Show," which debuted in September 1954 and is currently in its 54th season.

TRIVIA FANS: Send the trivia questions you've always wanted answered, or original TriviaBits ideas of your own, with your full name and hometown, to Stan Newman at StanTrivia@aol.com or on a postcard to P.O. Box 69, Massapequa Park, NY 11762.

Stanley Newman is the editor of the Newsday Crossword and author/editor of more than 125 books on crosswords, word games and trivia, including "15,003 Answers: The Ultimate Trivia Encyclopedia" (Random House). To find out more about Stanley Newman visit StanXwords.com, or e-mail him at StanTrivia@aol.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 STANLEY NEWMAN
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE