Colchicum

Colchicum (/ˈkɒltʃɪkəm/ KOL-chik-əm or /ˈkɒlkɪkəm/ KOL-kik-əm) is a genus of perennial flowering plants with about 160 different species. These plants grow from bulb-like structures called corms. They belong to the family known as Colchicaceae.

You can find Colchicum plants naturally in places like West Asia, Europe, along the Mediterranean coast, down the East African coast, all the way to South Africa and the Western Cape. One special feature of these flowers is that their ovary stays underground, which makes their styles very long—sometimes more than 10 centimeters or 4 inches!

All Colchicum plants are toxic, so they should be handled with care.

Common names

The common names autumn crocus, meadow saffron, and naked lady refer to the whole group of Colchicum or many of its species. These names describe the "naked" crocus-like flowers that bloom in late summer or autumn, before the leaves appear in spring.

Colchicum and Crocus look similar and can be confused, especially since some crocuses also flower in autumn. However, colchicums have 3 styles and 6 stamens, while crocuses have 1 style with 3 long stigmas and 3 stamens. Additionally, the corm structures differ—in Colchicum, the corm is irregular, whereas in crocuses, it is like a flattened ball. Crocus belongs to the iris family, Iridaceae.

Etymology

The name "Colchicum" comes from the word "Colchis." This was the Ancient Greek name for a place called კოლხეთი (Kolkhida) in what is now Georgia. In Greek stories, Colchis is where the Argonauts went to find the Golden Fleece. The name Colchis might have come from an older language called Urartian.

Relationships

Colchicum melanthioides, also known as Androcymbium melanthioides, is a well-known plant from tropical areas. Unlike many colchicums that grow in cooler places, this plant shows its flowers and leaves together. Its white flowers grow in a small group and are shielded by white bracts. Other close relatives, such as Colchicum scabromarginatum and Colchicum coloratum, have flowers with very short stems and may be pollinated by small animals.

Cultivation

Temperate colchicums are popular in gardens because they are beautiful flowers. Some common species you can find in gardens include C. autumnale, C. speciosum, and C. tenorei, along with special hybrids and cultivars like 'Dick Trotter' and 'Poseidon'.

Some of these special varieties have won awards from the Royal Horticultural Society for being great garden plants. In the United Kingdom, a big collection of colchicums is kept at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk.

Medicinal uses and poisonous properties

Plants in the Colchicum genus contain a substance called colchicine. Doctors use this to help treat illnesses like gout and Familial Mediterranean fever. People have used the roots and seeds of these plants in traditional medicine.

But the leaves, corm, and seeds of Colchicum plants are poisonous. It is important to handle these plants with care and not eat any part of them.

Species

The genus Colchicum has about 160 different species of flowering plants. Scientists moved many of these plants to the Colchicum group after studying their genes.

Some species in this group are:

• Colchicum × agrippinum
• Colchicum alpinum
• Colchicum androcymbioides
• Colchicum antepense
• Colchicum autumnale
• Colchicum balansae
• Colchicum bivonae
• Colchicum bulbocodium
• Colchicum chalcedonicum
• Colchicum confusum

These plants grow from bulb-like parts called corms. They are found in many places, including West Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa.