Colchicum speciosum
Colchicum speciosum, commonly known as the Autumn Crocus, is a striking perennial plant prized for its brilliant, goblet-shaped blooms. While aesthetically beautiful, it contains colchicine, a potent alkaloid used medically to treat gout. However, its high toxicity requires extreme caution, as accidental ingestion can be life-threatening to humans.
- Scientific name: Colchicum speciosum
- 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 subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Liliales, it is classified under the family Colchicaceae. Its specific taxonomic placement concludes with the genus Colchicum.
| 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 speciosum, is recognized by various regional common names across different languages. In Persian, it is referred to as گلحسرت زیبا, while in Russian, it is known as Безвременник великолепный. In Azerbaijani, the plant is called Gözəl vaxtsızçiçək, and in Arabic, it is identified as لحلاح خلاب. Additionally, in the Ossetian language, it is known as Куыдзынуры.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fa | گلحسرت زیبا | Wikidata |
| ru | Безвременник великолепный | Wikidata |
| az | Gözəl vaxtsızçiçək | Wikidata |
| ar | لحلاح خلاب | Wikidata |
| os | Куыдзынуры | Wikidata |
| sv | Prakttidlösa | Wikidata |
| azb | گؤزل واختسیزچیچک | Wikidata |
| cs | ocún ozdobný | Wikidata |
| tr | Vargit çiçeği | Wikidata |
| zh | 美丽秋水仙 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions of Eurasia. In the northern reaches of its range, it can be found growing in the Altai mountains of Siberia. Its presence extends significantly into the Caucasus, spanning both the North Caucasus and the Transcaucasus regions. Moving southward into Western Asia, the species is well-established within the borders of Türkiye. Additionally, its distribution continues into the mountainous landscapes of Iran.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Siberia | Altay | WCVP |
| Caucasus | North Caucasus | WCVP |
| Caucasus | Transcaucasus | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iran | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Türkiye | WCVP |
Activities
Colchicum speciosum has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |