Colchicum
Encyclopedia
Colchicum is a genus
of flowering plant
s containing around sixty species
of perennial plant
s which grow from corm
s. It is a member of family Colchicaceae
, and is native to West Asia, Europe
and parts 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.
Other hybrids include 'Disraeli' (purple white), ‘Violet Queen’ (purple), ‘Dick Trotter’ (violet with white centre), ‘Giant’ (red with white centre; C gigantium x C bornmuelleri), ‘Harlekijn’ (white with purple band), ‘Poseidon’ (purple) and ‘Lilac Wonder’ (lilac).
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
.
, corm
and seed
s are poison
ous. Murderess Catherine Wilson
is thought to have used it to poison a number of victims in the 19th century.
The plant contains the alkaloid
colchicine
which is used pharmaceutically to treat gout. The use of the root
s and seeds in traditional medicine is thought to have arisen due to the presence of this drug.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s containing around sixty species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of perennial plant
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
s which grow from corm
Corm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
s. It is a member of family Colchicaceae
Colchicaceae
Colchicaceae is a botanical name of a family of flowering plants.The APG III system, of 2009 , does recognize such a family and places it in the order Liliales, in the clade monocots, and regards the family as including some two hundred species of herbaceous perennials with rhizomes or corms.The...
, and is native to West Asia, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and parts of the Mediterranean coast.
Colchicum autumnale
Colchicum autumnale
Colchicum autumnale, commonly known as autumn crocus, meadow saffron or naked lady, is a flower which resembles the true crocuses, but flowering in autumn...
, commonly called "autumn crocus" or "naked ladies", is the best known species. It produces purple, pink or white flowers resembling those of the crocus
Crocus
Crocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
which appear from September to October in its native latitudes. It forms a rosette
Rosette (botany)
In botany, a rosette is a circular arrangement of leaves, with all the leaves at a single height.Though rosettes usually sit near the soil, their structure is an example of a modified stem.-Function:...
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.
Cultivation
Commonly grown in gardens as an ornamental flower. The large-flowered doubles are the most commonly sold and include cultivars and hybrids such as ‘Waterlily’ (pink), C. autumnale ‘Alboplenum’ (white) and C. autumnale ‘Pleniflorum' (red).Other hybrids include 'Disraeli' (purple white), ‘Violet Queen’ (purple), ‘Dick Trotter’ (violet with white centre), ‘Giant’ (red with white centre; C gigantium x C bornmuelleri), ‘Harlekijn’ (white with purple band), ‘Poseidon’ (purple) and ‘Lilac Wonder’ (lilac).
In this genus the ovary of the flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
is underground. As a consequence, the styles are extremely long in proportion, often more than 10cm.
In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the National Collection
NCCPG National Plant Collection
The NCCPG National Plant Collection scheme is the main conservation vehicle whereby the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens can accomplish its mission: to conserve, grow, propagate, document and make available the resource of garden plants that exists in the United...
of Colchicums is maintained at Felbrigg Hall
Felbrigg Hall
Felbrigg Hall is a 17th-century country house located in Felbrigg, Norfolk, England. Part of a National Trust property, the unaltered 17th-century house is noted for its Jacobean architecture and fine Georgian interior...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
Medicinal uses and poisonous properties
Its leavesLeaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, corm
Corm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
and seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s are poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ous. Murderess Catherine Wilson
Catherine Wilson
Catherine Wilson was a British woman who was hanged for one murder, but was generally thought at the time to have committed six others. She worked as a nurse and poisoned her victims after encouraging them to leave her money in their wills...
is thought to have used it to poison a number of victims in the 19th century.
The plant contains the alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
colchicine
Colchicine
Colchicine is a medication used for gout. It is a toxic natural product and secondary metabolite, originally extracted from plants of the genus Colchicum...
which is used pharmaceutically to treat gout. The use of the root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s and seeds in traditional medicine is thought to have arisen due to the presence of this drug.
Species
Hereafter the about 100 Colchicum species according to the World Checklist:- Colchicum alpinumColchicum alpinumColchicum alpinum is like a small version of Colchicum autumnale. It is rosy-purple in colour, and produces two to three leaves after flowering. It is native to central Europe....
DC. in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck & A.P.de Candolle, Fl. Franç., ed. 3, 3: 195 (1805). - Colchicum androcymbioides (Valdés) K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 169 (2007).
- Colchicum antepense K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 169 (2007).
- Colchicum antilibanoticum Gomb., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 104: 286 (1957).
- Colchicum arenarium Waldst. & Kit., Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung. 2: 195 (1810).
- Colchicum arenasii Fridl., Acta Bot. Gallica 146: 158 (1999).
- Colchicum asteranthum Vassiliades & K.M.Perss., Preslia 74: 57 (2002).
- Colchicum atticum Spruner ex Tommas., Flora 23: 780 (1840).
- Colchicum autumnaleColchicum autumnaleColchicum autumnale, commonly known as autumn crocus, meadow saffron or naked lady, is a flower which resembles the true crocuses, but flowering in autumn...
L., Sp. Pl.: 341 (1753). - Colchicum balansaeColchicum balansaeColchicum balansae is a variable species producing white to rosy-purple flowers in fall. The flowers are borne low to the ground, but can come from bulbs 50cm below the soil surface. The leaves are absent at flowering time, and start growing in the spring and can reach up to 30cm long. This...
Planch., Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., IV, 4: 145 (1855). - Colchicum baytopiorumColchicum baytopiorumColchicum baytopiorum is a newly described species from western Turkey. It has small, bright pink-purple flowers measuring 4 cm across. It is unusual for producing small leaves in autumn while in bloom, as opposed to producing leaves in spring. It has a chromosome number of 46, 54 or 108....
C.D.Brickell, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 41: 49 (1983). - Colchicum bivonae Guss., Adnot. Cat. Pl. Bocc.: 4 (1821).
- Colchicum boissieriColchicum boissieriColchicum boisseri is member of the flowering plant family Colchicaceae native to lands in eastern Mediterranean Sea, southern Greece and south-western Turkey. The species is unique for its spreading, rhizomatous bulbs. It blooms well with 5cm blooms in a bright cherry pink. The stamens are yellow...
Orph., Atti Congr. Int. Bot. Firenze 1874: 31 (1876). - Colchicum bornmuelleriColchicum speciosumColchicum speciosum is native to mountainous areas of northern Turkey and other parts of the Caucasus region. Colchicum bornmuelleri was once considered an independent species, but has now been included with Colchicum speciosum as Colchicum speciosum var...
Freyn, Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges. 7: 319 (1889). - Colchicum bulbocodiumColchicum bulbocodiumColchicum bulbocodium, the Spring Meadow Saffron is a species of alpine bulbs native to the Pyrenees and the Alps of Europespecies of poisonous plant....
Ker Gawl., Bot. Mag. 26: t. 1028 (1807):- Colchicum bulbocodium subsp. bulbocodium.
- Colchicum bulbocodium var. edentatum (Schur) K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 179 (2007).
- Colchicum bulbocodium subsp. versicolor (Ker Gawl.) K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 178 (2007).
- Colchicum burttii Meikle, Bot. Mag. 181: 134 (1977).
- Colchicum chalcedonicum Azn., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 44: 174 (1897):
- Colchicum chalcedonicum subsp. chalcedonicum.
- Colchicum chalcedonicum subsp. punctatum K.Perss., Candollea 53: 405 (1998).
- Colchicum chimonanthum K.Perss., Pl. Syst. Evol. 217: 56 (1999).
- Colchicum chlorobasis K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 62: 182 (2005 publ. 2006).
- Colchicum cilicicumColchicum cilicicumColchicum cilicium bears deep rose-lilac flowers in late summer, with barely any tesselation. It has a very noticeable white stripe down the centre of each petal, which gives it a star like appearance at the base. The flowers tend to stand up to weather better than other colchicum blooms. This...
(Boiss.) Dammer, Gard. Chron., III, 23: 34 (1898). - Colchicum confusum K.Perss., Pl. Syst. Evol. 217: 60 (1999).
- Colchicum corsicumColchicum corsicumColchicum corsicum is a species of flowering plant, closely related to Colchicum autumnale. It is native to the island of Corsica and has pink and white flowered forms in the wild, of which a population tends to be divided equally between the two colours....
Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 17: 481 (1879). - Colchicum cretense Greuter, Candollea 22: 246 (1967).
- Colchicum crocifolium Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 5: 67 (1844).
- Colchicum cupanii Guss., Fl. Sicul. Prodr. 1: 452 (1827):
- Colchicum cupanii subsp. cupanii.
- Colchicum cupanii subsp. glossophyllum (Heldr.) Rouy, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 52: 646 (1906).
- Colchicum davisiiColchicum davisiiColchicum davisii is a large flowering colchicum species native to Turkey. The flowers are very pale pink and heavily tessellated with a white throat and prominent yellow anthers. They are produced in autumn. The bulbs, technically corms, are elongated and have several growing points....
C.D.Brickell, New Plantsman 5: 15 (1998). - Colchicum decaisnei Boiss., Fl. Orient. 5: 157 (1882).
- Colchicum doerfleri Halácsy, Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss., Wien. Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 64: 742 (1897).
- Colchicum dolichantherum K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 126 (1999).
- Colchicum eichleri (Regel) K.Perss., in Fl. Iran. 170: 18 (1992).
- Colchicum euboeum (Boiss.) K.Perss., Candollea 53: 400 (1998).
- Colchicum fasciculare (L.) R.Br., Narr. Travels Africa: 243 (1826).
- Colchicum feinbruniae K.Perss., Israel J. Bot. 41: 75 (1992 publ. 1993).
- Colchicum figlalii (Varol) Parolly & Eren, Willdenowia 37: 267 (2007).
- Colchicum filifolium (Cambess.) Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 58 (1926).
- Colchicum freynii Bornm., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 7: 172 (1917).
- Colchicum giganteumColchicum speciosumColchicum speciosum is native to mountainous areas of northern Turkey and other parts of the Caucasus region. Colchicum bornmuelleri was once considered an independent species, but has now been included with Colchicum speciosum as Colchicum speciosum var...
S.Arn., Gard. Chron., III, 32: 435 (1902). - Colchicum gonarei Camarda, Boll. Soc. Sarda Sci. Nat. 17: 227 (1978).
- Colchicum graecum K.Perss., Willdenowia 18: 34 (1988).
- Colchicum greuteri (Gabrieljan) K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 222 (2007).
- Colchicum haynaldii Heuff., Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 8: 218 (1858).
- Colchicum heldreichii K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 98 (1999).
- Colchicum hierosolymitanum Feinbrun, Palestine J. Bot., Jerusalem Ser. 6: 84 (1953).
- Colchicum hirsutum Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 34 (1926).
- Colchicum hungaricum Janka, Term. Füz. 10: 75 (1886).
- Colchicum ignescens K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 191 (2007).
- Colchicum imperatoris-friderici Siehe ex K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 129 (1999).
- Colchicum inundatum K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 99 (1999).
- Colchicum kesselringii Regel, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 8: 646 (1884).
- Colchicum kotschyiColchicum kotschyiColchicum kotschyi is a species native to the Middle East which blooms very early for an autumn flowering colchicum, as early as August. The flowers open to a pink-purple colour, but white flowered specimens are common in the wild. The plant reaches up to 6" tall and grows well in sunny, warm...
Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 13: 38 (1854). - Colchicum kurdicum (Bornm.) Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 42 (1926).
- Colchicum laetumColchicum laetumColchicum laetum is no longer considered to be a true species. The only cultivated variety of C. laetum, known as 'Pink Star' is highly floriferous, but likely a selection of Colchicum byzantinum and not a separate species....
Steven, Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 7: 262 (1829). - Colchicum lagotum K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 197 (2007).
- Colchicum leptanthum K.Perss., Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 135: 85 (2001).
- Colchicum lingulatumColchicum lingulatumColchicum lingulatum blooms in early fall, with 3–4 cm flowers of pink with widely spaced petals. The stamens are a prominent yellow. The foliage is produced after the flowers. It is native to north-western Turkey and Greece....
Boiss. & Spruner in P.E.Boissier, Diagn. Pl. Orient. 5: 66 (1844):- Colchicum lingulatum subsp. lingulatum.
- Colchicum lingulatum subsp. rigescens K.Perss., Candollea 53: 411 (1998).
- Colchicum longifolium Castagne, Cat. Pl. Marseille: 135 (1845).
- Colchicum lusitanum Brot., Phytogr. Lusit. Select. 2: 211 (1827).
- Colchicum luteum Baker, Gard. Chron., n.s., 2: 33 (1874).
- Colchicum macedonicum Kosanin, Glas Akad. Nauk. & Beogradu 85: 232 (1911).
- Colchicum macrophyllumColchicum macrophyllumColchicum macrophyllum has large, funnel shaped flowers in the fall with much tessellation throughout the bloom. The colour is rosy-purple and white. The leaves that it produces in the spring are large, up to 16" long, among the largest of all colchicum species.This plant is native to the area...
B.L.Burtt, Kew Bull. 5: 433 (1950 publ. 1951). - Colchicum manissadjianii (Azn.) K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 202 (2007).
- Colchicum micaceum K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 95 (1999).
- Colchicum micranthumColchicum micranthumColchicum micranthum is a small species native to Turkey with nearly white flowers barely 2 cm tall. It produces a series of blooms throughout the fall. The leaves follow the flowers, and are usually 3-5 in number....
Boiss., Fl. Orient. 5: 162 (1882). - Colchicum minutum K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 90 (1999).
- Colchicum mirzoevae (Gabrieljan) K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 222 (2007).
- Colchicum montanum L., Sp. Pl.: 342 (1753).
- Colchicum multiflorum Brot., Fl. Lusit. 1: 597 (1804).
- Colchicum munzurense K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 86 (1999).
- Colchicum nanum K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 206 (2007).
- Colchicum neapolitanum (Ten.) Ten., Fl. Neapol. Prodr. App. 5: 11 (1826).
- Colchicum parlatorisColchicum parlatorisColchicum parlatoris is a small species of colchicum with dark-purple pink flowers on short stems bearing prominent yellow stamens. The species is very similar to Colchicum pusillum, mainly being different in having more star shaped flowers....
Orph., Atti Congr. Int. Bot. Firenze 1874: 82 (1876). - Colchicum parnassicumColchicum parnassicumColchicum parnassicum is closely related to Colchicum autumnale, mainly being different in having shorter flowers. The blooms are produced in fall and have a medium pink colour. The flowers hold up well in fall weather. This species, if cultivated in cold climates, it will do better in a sunny,...
Sart., Orph. & Heldr. in P.E.Boissier, Diagn. Pl. Orient., II, 4: 122 (1859). - Colchicum paschei K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 110 (1999).
- Colchicum peloponnesiacum Rech.f. & P.H.Davis, Oesterr. Bot. Z. 95: 427 (1949).
- Colchicum persicum Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 17: 430 (1879).
- Colchicum polyphyllum Boiss. & Heldr. in P.E.Boissier, Diagn. Pl. Orient., II, 4: 121 (1859).
- Colchicum pulchellum K.Perss., Willdenowia 18: 30 (1988).
- Colchicum pusillumColchicum pusillumColchicum pusillum is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae that is easily identified by its up to 6 narrow leaves produced during or shortly after flowering. The flowers are star shaped and pale pink in colour. Its native region is Crete, Greece and Cyprus....
Sieber, Flora 5: 248 (1822). - Colchicum raddeanum (Regel) K.Perss., in Fl. Iran. 170: 22 (1992).
- Colchicum rausii K.Perss., Pl. Syst. Evol. 217: 58 (1999).
- Colchicum ritchii R.Br., Narr. Travels Africa, App.: 241 (1826).
- Colchicum robustum (Bunge) Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 24 (1926).
- Colchicum sanguicolle K.Perss., Edinburgh J. Bot. 56: 92 (1999).
- Colchicum schimperi Janka ex Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 31 (1926).
- Colchicum serpentinum Woronow ex Miscz., in Fl. Cauc. Crit. 3(4): 114 (1912).
- Colchicum sfikasianum Kit Tan & Iatroú, Rock Gard. 24(3): 255 (1995).
- Colchicum sieheanum Hausskn. ex Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 47 (1926).
- Colchicum soboliferum (C.A.Mey.) Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 44 (1926).
- Colchicum speciosumColchicum speciosumColchicum speciosum is native to mountainous areas of northern Turkey and other parts of the Caucasus region. Colchicum bornmuelleri was once considered an independent species, but has now been included with Colchicum speciosum as Colchicum speciosum var...
var Steven, Observ. Pl. Ross. 2: 69 (1824).- Colchicum speciosumColchicum speciosumColchicum speciosum is native to mountainous areas of northern Turkey and other parts of the Caucasus region. Colchicum bornmuelleri was once considered an independent species, but has now been included with Colchicum speciosum as Colchicum speciosum var...
var bornmuelleri Freyn, Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges. 7: 319 (1889).
- Colchicum speciosum
- Colchicum stevenii Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 144 (1843).
- Colchicum szovitsii Fisch. & C.A.Mey., Index Seminum (LE) 1: 24 (1835).
- Colchicum szovitsii subsp. brachyphyllum (Boiss. & Hausskn.) K.Perss., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 221 (2007):
- Colchicum szovitsii subsp. szovitsii.
- Colchicum trigynum (Steven ex Adam) Stearn, J. Bot. 72: 344 (1934).
- Colchicum triphyllum (Kunze), Flora 29: 755 (1846).
- Colchicum troodi Kotschy in F.Unger & C.G.T.Kotschy, Ins. Cypern: 190 (1865).
- Colchicum tunicatum Feinbrun, Palestine J. Bot., Jerusalem Ser. 6: 87 (1953).
- Colchicum turcicum Janka, Oesterr. Bot. Z. 23: 242 (1873).
- Colchicum tuviae Feinbrun, Palestine J. Bot., Jerusalem Ser. 6: 79 (1953).
- Colchicum umbrosum Steven, Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 7: 268 (1829).
- Colchicum varians (Freyn & Bornm.) Dyer in B.D.Jackson, Index Kew., Suppl. 2: 45 (1904).
- Colchicum variegatum L., Sp. Pl.: 342 (1753).
- Colchicum wendelboi K.Perss., in Fl. Iran. 170: 19 (1992).
- Colchicum woronowii Bokeriya, Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 75: 201 (1990).
- Colchicum zahnii Heldr., Exsicc. (Herb. Graec. Norm.) 1900: 1586 (1900).
Sources
- Suite 101. Plants and Bulbs: Hardy Fall-Blooming Bulbs for Your Garden
- Veseys: Information for gardeners