Colchicum
192524
197643518
2008-03-12T03:53:24Z
BBKurt
4418915
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Colchicum''
| image = Colchicum speciosum0.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Colchicum speciosum''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Liliales]]
| familia = [[Colchicaceae]]
| genus = '''''Colchicum'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''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 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 (botany)|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.
Its [[leaf|leaves]], [[corm]] and [[seed]]s are [[poison]]ous, containing the [[alkaloid]] [[colchicine]]. Its [[root]]s 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]].
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 [[United Kingdom|UK]], the [[NCCPG National Plant Collection|National Collection]] of Cochicums is maintained at [[Felbrigg Hall]], [[Norfolk]].
== Species ==
*''[[Colchicum autumnale]]''
*''[[Colchicum speciosum]]''
*''[[Colchicum album]]''
*''[[Colchicum corsicum]]''
*''[[Colchicum agrippinum]]''
*''[[Colchicum byzantinum]]''
*''[[Colchicum bornmuelleri]]''
*''[[Colchicum cilicicum]]''
*''[[Colchicum laetum]]''
{{Commons|Colchicum speciosum}}
[[Category:Colchicaceae]]
[[bg:Мразовец]]
[[cs:Ocún]]
[[de:Herbstzeitlose]]
[[es:Cólquico]]
[[fa:سورنجان]]
[[fr:Colchique]]
[[he:סתוונית]]
[[ksh:Kokokköl]]
[[nl:Herfsttijloos]]
[[ru:Безвременник]]
[[sv:Tidlösor]]
[[wa:Coltchike]]