Colchicum crocifolium
Colchicum crocifolium, commonly known as the Autumn Crocus, is a striking perennial plant valued for its vibrant, goblet-shaped blooms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, it contains colchicine, a potent alkaloid used in modern medicine to treat gout and certain blood disorders, though it requires careful handling due to its toxicity.
- Scientific name: Colchicum crocifolium
- Family: Colchicaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Liliales, it is classified under the family Colchicaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Colchicum, specifically as the species Colchicum crocifolium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Liliales | WCVP |
| Family | Colchicaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Colchicum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Colchicum croceifolium, is recognized by various local designations depending on the region and language. In Arabic, it is commonly referred to as لحلاح زعفراني الأوراق.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | لحلاح زعفراني الأوراق | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within Western Asia. It can be found growing natively in the mountainous and diverse landscapes of Iran. Additionally, its range extends into the territories of Iraq. The species is also documented throughout the Lebanon-Syria border region. Finally, its geographical presence includes the varied terrain of Türkiye.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Asia | Iran | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iraq | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Lebanon-Syria | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Türkiye | WCVP |
Chemicals
Colchicum crocifolium has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-colchicine, (-)-demecolcine.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (-)-colchicine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-demecolcine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |