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Common Name: Autumn Crocus

General Information

Colchicum autumnale is a Bulb up to 0.15 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant, but especially the bulb[], are poisonous[, , , , ]. They cause vomiting, violent purging, serious inflammation of the stomach and bowels, and death[].
Handling the corms can cause skin allergies in some people[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and southeastern Europe, including Britain, from Denmark to Spain, east to Macedonia.

Habitat

Meadows and damp woodland clearings[, , ] on calcareous and neutral soils[]. Extremely rare away from the Bristol Channel in Britain[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.15 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a rich well-drained loam in a sunny position[, ]. Tolerates partial shade but dislikes dry soils[]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.5 to 7.5.
Plants are hardy to about -20°c[]. The dormant bulbs are fairly hardy and will withstand soil temperatures down to at least -5°c[].
The autumn crocus is easily grown in grass[] and can be naturalized there[]. It also grows well amongst shrubs and by woodland edges[].
Plant the corms about 7 - 10cm deep in July[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[], though slugs may attack the corms[].
The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Though known since at least the time of the ancient Greeks, autumn crocus was considered too poisonous to use medicinally and it was not until research in the Eighteenth century that the plant was discovered to be of value in the treatment of gout[]. In modern herbalism it is still used to relieve the pain and inflammation of acute gout and rheumatism, although frequent use has been known to encourage more frequent attacks of the complaint[, ].

Both the corm and the seeds are analgesic, antirheumatic, cathartic and emetic[, , , , ]. They are used mainly in the treatment of gouty and rheumatic complaints, usually accompanied with an alkaline diuretic[]. Leukaemia has been successfully treated with autumn crocus, and the plant has also been used with some success to treat Bechet's syndrome, a chronic disease marked by recurring ulcers and leukaemia[].
A very toxic plant, it should not be prescribed for pregnant women or patients with kidney disease, and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[]. See also the notes above on toxicity.
The seeds are harvested in early summer, the corms in mid to late summer when the plant has fully died down. They are dried for later use[].

The fresh bulb is used to make a homeopathic remedy[]. It is used in the treatment of nausea, diarrhoea and rheumatism[].

Other Uses

The poisonous alkaloid 'colchicine' is extracted from this plant and used to alter the genetic make-up of plants in an attempt to find new, improved varieties[, , , , , ]. It works by doubling the chromosome number[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in early summer in a seed bed or a cold frame[, ]. Germination can be very slow, taking up to 18 months at 15°c[]. It is best to sow the seed thinly so that it is not necessary to transplant the seedlings for their first year of growth. Apply a liquid fertilizer during their first summer, however, to ensure they get sufficient nourishment. Prick out the seedlings once they are dormant, putting perhaps 2 plants per pot, and grow them on in a greenhouse or frame for at least a couple of years. Plant them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant[]. The seedlings take 4 - 5 years to reach flowering size[].
Division of the bulbs in early summer/July when the leaves have died down[]. Larger bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on in a cold frame for a year before planting them out. The plant can be divided every other year if a quick increase is required[].