COLCHICUM L. - AUTUMN-CROCUS
Scientific Description:
Perennial acaulescent herbs. Stock a tunicated corm, occasionally soboliferous with elongate, horizontal rhizome-like stoloniferous outgrowths; tunics membranous, papery or coriaceous, frequently extended into a tubular, persistent ‘neck’. Developing leaves and inflorescence enclosed within a membranous sheath (cataphyll). Leaves basal, partially developed at anthesis (synanthous) or developing after flowering (hysteranthous), occasionally developing as the flowers fade (subsynanthous). Flowers solitary or in fascicles, each subtended by a small bract and very shortly pedicellate, pedicel elongating as capsules ripen. Perianth campanulate, funnel-shaped, rotate or stellate, purple, pink or white, sometimes tessellated. Perianth segments 6, in 2 equal or subequal series connate at their bases into a tube; base of segments occasionally auriculate; throat sometimes ridged either side of filament bases to form a short ‘filament channel’, ridges glabrous or downy. Stamens inserted near base of perianth segments, 1-or 2-seriate; filaments slender, sometimes thickened at base; anthers dorsifixed, versatile (in Turkish species), dehiscence introrse. Styles 3, free, stigmas punctiform or unilaterally decurrent along style; ovary subterranean. Capsule septicidal, 3-locular; seeds numerous, subglobose or globose.
Public Description:
Colchium is a genus of perennial herbs, known as "autumn-crocus", "meadow saffron" and "naked lady" is native to West Asia, Europe, parts of the Mediterranean coast, and Africa. There are approximately 103 species in the world and 47 species (49 taxa) in Türkiye. The plants contain the alkaloid “colchicine” which is used pharmaceutically to treat gout and Familial Mediterranean fever. The leaves, corm and seeds are poisonous.
References:
Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchicum/, Accessed date: 21.02.2016.
Düşen O (2012). Colchicum L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 371–375.
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