Colchicum autumale
Autumn Crocus, Meadow Saffron (Not edible Saffron), Naked Lady, Naked Boy.
Naturalised in parts of New Zealand this is the only Colchicum species native to the United Kingdom. It is also native to Mainland Europe from Portugal to the Ukraine. Apart from New Zealand it has also naturalised in Denmark, Sweden, European Russia and the Baltic States.
There are over 160 species of Colchicum recorded but very few have made it into common cultivation in gardens worldwide. The Family Colchicaceae are a group of bulb like corms which are native to Western Europe, Mediterranean, East Africa, South Africa and Western Cape.
Colchicum autumale is the best known and most popular species which produces lovely rosey purple crocus like flowers in early autumn from naked corms. They will flower from bare corms which have no roots or leaves at the time of flowering.
Interestingly the ovary, where seed is formed, is located underground and the female style grows uo through the hollow stem to a length of about 100mm which is very long.
Masses of flowers are produced from a group of corms naturalised in the garden. These corms are similar in shape to a daffodil bulb but with a strong dark brown skin. They grow and divide each year so it is possible to increase numbers very quickly.
Once flowered it will produce roots and quite long wide leaves.
The botanical name comes from Colchis- a region in Georgia (Caucasus), by ancient Greeks and mentioned in Mythology as the destination of Argonauts and the place of Medea and Golden Fleece.
Apart from the main species several cultivar exist
The corms contain a chemical Colchicine which is used to treat Gout and Familial Mediterranean Fever. Corms should not be eaten.
It is also used in plant breeding to produce polyploid strains of plants (with more than two pairs of chromosomes) enabling plants to exhibit novel variations. Eg survive in different habitats. Also it is used to overcome sterile hybrids in plant breeding. See Wikipedia Polyploid for more information.
Naturalised in parts of New Zealand this is the only Colchicum species native to the United Kingdom. It is also native to Mainland Europe from Portugal to the Ukraine. Apart from New Zealand it has also naturalised in Denmark, Sweden, European Russia and the Baltic States.
There are over 160 species of Colchicum recorded but very few have made it into common cultivation in gardens worldwide. The Family Colchicaceae are a group of bulb like corms which are native to Western Europe, Mediterranean, East Africa, South Africa and Western Cape.
Colchicum autumale is the best known and most popular species which produces lovely rosey purple crocus like flowers in early autumn from naked corms. They will flower from bare corms which have no roots or leaves at the time of flowering.
Interestingly the ovary, where seed is formed, is located underground and the female style grows uo through the hollow stem to a length of about 100mm which is very long.
Masses of flowers are produced from a group of corms naturalised in the garden. These corms are similar in shape to a daffodil bulb but with a strong dark brown skin. They grow and divide each year so it is possible to increase numbers very quickly.
Once flowered it will produce roots and quite long wide leaves.
The botanical name comes from Colchis- a region in Georgia (Caucasus), by ancient Greeks and mentioned in Mythology as the destination of Argonauts and the place of Medea and Golden Fleece.
Apart from the main species several cultivar exist
- C. autumnale ‘Album’ White
- C. autumnale ‘Alboplenum ’ White
- C. autumnale Nancy Lindsay’ Mauve Pink
- C. autumnale pleniflorum’ Red
The corms contain a chemical Colchicine which is used to treat Gout and Familial Mediterranean Fever. Corms should not be eaten.
It is also used in plant breeding to produce polyploid strains of plants (with more than two pairs of chromosomes) enabling plants to exhibit novel variations. Eg survive in different habitats. Also it is used to overcome sterile hybrids in plant breeding. See Wikipedia Polyploid for more information.