autumn crocus

Colchicum
Colchicum speciosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Monocots Order: Liliales Family: Colchicaceae Genus: Colchicum
Species
See text.

Colchicum (pronounced /ˈkɒltʃɨkəm/)^[1] is a genus of flowering plants containing around sixty species of perennial plants which grow from corms. It is a member of family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia and part of the Mediterranean coast.

Colchicum autumnale, commonly called "autumn crocus" or "naked ladies", is the best known species. It produces purple, pink or white flowers resembling those of the crocus which appear from September to October in its native latitudes. It forms a rosette of dark green leaves, but only after flowering.

Several other species, such as C. speciosum, C. album, C. corsicum and C. agrippinum, are grown for their flowers.

Medicinal uses and poisonous properties

Its leaves, corm and seeds are poisonous, containing the alkaloid colchicine. Its roots and seeds have long been considered to have valuable medicinal properties deriving from the use of small doses of this drug, such as to treat gout. Murderess Catherine Wilson is thought to have used it to poison a number of victims in the 19th century.

In this genus the ovary of the flower is underground. As a consequence, the styles are extremely long in proportion, often more than 10cm.

In the UK, the National Collection of Colchicums is maintained at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk.

Species

• Colchicum alpinum
• Colchicum autumnale
• Colchicum speciosum
• Colchicum album
• Colchicum corsicum
• Colchicum agrippinum
• Colchicum byzantinum
• Colchicum bornmuelleri
• Colchicum cilicicum
• Colchicum laetum

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Colchicum speciosum