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Common Name:

General Information

Colchicum luteum is a Bulb up to 0.10 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

E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.

Habitat

Stony or earthy hillsides and alpine meadows at higher altitudes[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.10 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 species is hardy to at least -15°c[].
Plants can take 4 - 5 years to flower when grown from seed[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The corms are alterative, aphrodisiac, carminative and laxative[]. They are used in India to treat gout, rheumatism and diseases of the liver and spleen[]. They contain the toxic alkaloid 'colchicine' which is used externally to relieve pain[, ]. The dried corms contain around 0.25% colchicine and the seed about 0.4%[].

Other Uses

The following notes are for C. autumnale. Since this plant also contains colchicine it can be assumed that it has the same 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[].