autumn crocus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Meadow Saffron
• Naked Ladies
• Autumn crocus
• autumn-crocus
• colchicum
• meadow-saffron

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Colchicum autumnale subsp. pannonicum
• Colchicum autumnale var. vernale
• Colchicum autumnale f. radei
• Colchicum crociflorum
• Colchicum orientale
• Colchicum pannonicum
• Colchicum drenowskii
• Colchicum autumnale var. serotinum
• Colchicum autumnale var. major
• Colchicum autumnale var. album
• Colchicum autumnale var. vernum
• Bulbocodium antumnale
• Colchicum autumnale f. macropetala
• Colchicum autumnale f. milosi
• Colchicum autumnale var. transsilvanicum
• Colchicum borisii
• Colchicum bulgaricum
• Colchicum turcicum subsp. pannonicum
• Colchicum autumnale var. pictum
• Colchicum praecox
• Colchicum rhodopaeum
• Colchicum polyanthon
• Colchicum transsilvanicum
• Colchicum vernale
• Colchicum autumnale var. elatius
• Colchicum autumnale var. pannonicum
• Colchicum autumnale f. pannonicum
• Colchicum autumnale f. transsilvanicum
• Colchicum autumnale f. bulgaricum
• Colchicum autumnale var. bulgaricum
• Colchicum autumnale subsp. vernum
• Colchicum autumnale var. viridiflorum
• Colchicum autumnale var. speciosissimum
• Colchicum doerfleri var. orientale
• Colchicum autumnale proles vernale

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Liliales, falling into the family Colchicaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Colchicum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Denmark and Sweden. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the British Isles, specifically in Great Britain and Ireland. Moving towards the central part of the continent, the species extends into Middle Europe. One notable location where this medicinal plant is situated is within Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Colchicum autumnale is characterized by its preference for lowland environments, where it typically colonizes moist, nutrient-rich habitats. It is frequently found in damp meadows, pastures, and deciduous woodlands, often occupying areas with heavy, clay-based soils that retain significant moisture. These lowland settings provide the stable, humid conditions necessary for its life cycle, particularly during its autumnal flowering phase. The plant thrives in sites with partial shade to full sun, often appearing in seasonal wetlands or alluvial soils where organic matter is abundant. Its distribution is closely tied to these specific soil compositions and moisture levels, allowing it to establish competitive presence in temperate grassland and forest-edge ecosystems.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Colchicum autumnale is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its habitat over multiple years. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically categorized as a geophyte, meaning it survives unfavorable seasons by storing energy and protecting its vital organs within an underground organ, such as a corm. This plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, where the visible foliage dies back during periods of dormancy, leaving the plant to rely on its subterranean structures until the next growing cycle begins.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Colchicum autumnale is characterized by a non-woody growth form, specifically functioning as a herbaceous forb. This self-supporting plant is terrestrial in its habitat and operates as an independent organism, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.225 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.225 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Colchicum autumnale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it obtains its nutrients through traditional root uptake and soil interaction rather than through specialized trapping mechanisms. The leaf morphology is specialized, with a mean leaf width of 3.5 cm, a value that remains consistent across its minimum and maximum recorded widths. These leaves exhibit a maximum length of 25 cm and maintain a mean surface area of approximately 54.1105 cm². Furthermore, the plant displays a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 219.1 cm²/g, reflecting the relationship between its leaf area and its dry mass density, which is a key indicator of its resource acquisition strategy and leaf thickness.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf size mean:

54.1105 cm²

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

219.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Colchicum autumnale is characterized by a sexual process, as both asexual reproduction and self-fertilization are noted to be absent. The flowering period typically begins in August and continues through November. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects with bees serving as key pollinators. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule, which is dehiscent, meaning it splits open to release its seeds. The seeds produced are quite uniform in size, with a mean width of 4.5 mm (ranging from a minimum of 4.5 mm to a maximum of 4.5 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.00636 g (with a minimum of 0.0054 g and a maximum of 0.00701 g). Dispersal of these seeds is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, where wind serves as the primary agent for transporting the seeds away from the parent plant.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Nov

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00701 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0063616665 g

Seed mass min:

0.0054 g

Seed width mean:

4.5 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Colchicum autumnale has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Forensic science international

Chemicals

Colchicum autumnale has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include colchicine, Demecolcine, 2-Demethylcolchicine, 2-Hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoic acid, 3-Demethylcolchicine.

colchicine

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Clinical and experimental rheumatology
4. The Journal of veterinary medical science
5. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Demecolcine

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of veterinary medical science
3. Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis Facultatis Medicae
4. FEBS letters

2-Demethylcolchicine

1. Dr. Duke

2-Hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

3-Demethylcolchicine

1. Dr. Duke

6-methoxy-salicylic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Anthraquinones

1. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society

Autumnaline

1. Dr. Duke

CAA

1. Cellular immunology

Chelidonic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Colchicum autumnale has 163 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimitotic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, Absorbent, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic.

Antimitotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiADD

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBehcet's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Colchicum autumnale has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include gout, cancer, Behcet disease, breast cancer, colic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations