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Common Name:

General Information

Colchicum bivonae is a Bulb up to 0.15 metres tall.
The plant is a source of the poisonous alkaloid 'colchicine', which is used in plant breeding projects.

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

S. Europe.

Habitat

Mountainous regions in pinewood and scrub around 500 metres[, ].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Prefers a rich well-drained loam that does not dry out rapidly in summer[]. Requires a very sunny position[].
This is a very difficult species to grow outdoors because of its susceptibility to slug damage, it is best grown in a bulb frame[].
Plants can take 4 - 5 years to flower when grown from seed[].
Plant the bulbs about 7 - 10cm deep in July[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

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[].