Colchicum

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Not to be confused with Narcissus bulbocodium.
Colchicum
Colchicum speciosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Colchicaceae
Genus: Colchicum
L.
Synonyms
  • Androcymbium Willd.
  • Bulbocodium L.
  • Merendera Ramond

Colchicum (/ˈkɒltʃɨkəm/) is a genus of perennial flowering plants containing around 160 species which grow from bulb-like corms. It is a member of the botanical family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia, Europe, parts of the Mediterranean coast, down the East African coast to South Africa and the Western Cape. In this genus the ovary of the flower is underground. As a consequence, the styles are extremely long in proportion, often more than 10 cm (4 in).

Common names

The common names "autumn crocus", "meadow saffron" and "naked lady" may be applied to the whole genus or to many of its species; they refer to the "naked" crocus-like flowers which appear in late summer or autumn, long before the strap-like foliage which appears in spring.

Colchicum melanthioides is probably the best known species from the tropical regions. In contrast to most temperate colchicums the flower and leaves are produced at the same time, the white flowers are usually a small corymb which is enclosed by white bracts. Close relatives (such as Colchicum scabromarginatum and Colchicum coloratum) have flowers with very short stalks and might be pollinated by rodents.[1]

Cultivation

Temperate colchicums are commonly grown in gardens as ornamental flowers. They include cultivars and hybrids such as:-

  • C. autumnale 'Alboplenum' (white)
  • C. autumnale 'Nancy Lindsay'agm[2] (mauve pink)
  • C. autumnale 'Pleniflorum' (red)
  • C. 'Dick Trotter' (violet with white centre)
  • C. 'Disraeli' (purple white),
  • C. 'Giant' (red with white centre)
  • C. 'Harlekijn' (white with purple band)
  • C. 'Lilac Wonder' (lilac)
  • C. 'Pink Goblet'agm[3] (violet-purple)
  • C. 'Poseidon' (purple)
  • C. 'Rosy Dawn'agm[4] (rose pink)
  • C. 'Violet Queen' (purple)
  • C. 'Waterlily'agm[5] (double, lilac-pink)

(Those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit).

In the United Kingdom, the National Collection of colchicums is maintained at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk.

Medicinal uses and poisonous properties

The plant contains the alkaloid colchicine which is used pharmaceutically to treat gout and Familial Mediterranean fever. The use of the roots and seeds in traditional medicine is thought to have arisen due to the presence of this drug.

Its leaves, corm and seeds are poisonous. Murderess Catherine Wilson is thought to have used it to poison a number of victims in the 19th century.

Species

The following are the species included under Colchicum.[6] The genus also contains species previously classified under Androcymbium, Bulbocodium and Merendera, all of which have been synonymized under Colchicum based on molecular genetic evidence.[7][8][9][10]

  • Colchicum agrippinum (probably a hybrid of garden origin)
  • Colchicum alpinum 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 autumnale L., Sp. Pl.: 341 (1753).
  • Colchicum balansae Planch., Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., IV, 4: 145 (1855).
  • Colchicum baytopiorum C.D.Brickell, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 41: 49 (1983).
  • Colchicum bivonae Guss., Adnot. Cat. Pl. Bocc.: 4 (1821).
  • Colchicum boissieri Orph., Atti Congr. Int. Bot. Firenze 1874: 31 (1876).
  • Colchicum bulbocodium 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 cilicicum (Boiss.) Dammer, Gard. Chron., III, 23: 34 (1898).
  • Colchicum confusum K.Perss., Pl. Syst. Evol. 217: 60 (1999).
  • Colchicum corsicum 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 davisii 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 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 kotschyi Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 13: 38 (1854).
  • Colchicum kurdicum (Bornm.) Stef., Sborn. B'lghar. Akad. Nauk 22: 42 (1926).
  • Colchicum laetum 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 lingulatum 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 macrophyllum 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 micranthum 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 parlatoris Orph., Atti Congr. Int. Bot. Firenze 1874: 82 (1876).
  • Colchicum parnassicum 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 pusillum 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 speciosum Steven, Observ. Pl. Ross. 2: 69 (1824).
  • 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).

Gallery

  • Colchicum alpinum

  • Colchicum antilibanoticum

  • Colchicum arenarium

  • Colchicum autumnale

  • Colchicum bivonae

  • Colchicum bulbocodium

  • Colchicum cilicicum

  • Colchicum feinbruniae

  • Colchicum figlalii

  • Colchicum hierosolymitanum

  • Colchicum hungaricum

  • Colchicum lusitanum

  • Colchicum montanum

  • Colchicum ritchii

  • Colchicum speciosum

  • Colchicum speciosum
    var. bornmuelleri

  • Colchicum stevenii

  • Colchicum szovitsii
    subsp. brachyphyllum

  • Colchicum troodi

  • Colchicum tunicatum

  • Colchicum tuviae

  • Colchicum variegatum

References

  1. ↑ Kleizen, Midgley & Johnson (2008) Pollination systems of Colchicum (Colchicaceae) in Southern Africa: evidence for rodent pollination. Ann. Bot. 102: 747-755.
  2. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Colchicum autumnale 'Nancy Lindsay'". Retrieved 16 June 2013. 
  3. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Colchicum 'Pink Goblet'". Retrieved 16 June 2013. 
  4. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Colchicum 'Rosy Dawn'". Retrieved 16 June 2013. 
  5. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Colchicum 'Waterlily'". Retrieved 16 June 2013. 
  6. ↑ Colchicum in the World Checklist
  7. ↑ Manning, Forest & Vinnersten (2007) The genus Colchicum L. redefined to include Androcymbium Willd. based on molecular evidence. Taxon 56: 872-882.
  8. ↑ Persson (2007) Nomenclatural synopsis of the genus Colchicum (Colchicaceae), with some new species and combinations. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 165-242.
  9. ↑ del Hoyo, García-Marín & Pedrola-Monfort (2009) Temporal and spatial diversification of the African disjunct genus Androcymbium (Colchicaceae). Mol. Phyl. Evol. 53: 848-861.
  10. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607

Sources

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