Autumn crocus

Autumn crocus, or colchicum (Scientific Name: Colchicum autumnale) is a bulbous plant native to Europe and North Africa, belonging to the Colchicaceae family. It is also known by other names such as "autumn crocus" and "autumn lily." The plant has a short height of 15-20 cm and produces pink single flowers from bulbs. There are also horticultural varieties with white flowers or double petals. Although the bulbs and seeds contain colchicine, which is useful for breeding seedless watermelons, it is a poisonous plant and should not be consumed.

Poisonous but Beneficial

Moles—cute and round but harmful to fields. Earthworms—consume kitchen waste and dead leaves, enriching the soil.
Moles primarily eat earthworms, a beneficial organism for fields, consuming about half their body weight daily. In addition, moles dig tunnels, causing bumps in the soil and damaging crops like sweet potatoes, obstructing their growth. They also create tunnels in paddy fields, preventing irrigation water from reaching the fields. To prevent this, plants such as Colchicum (scientific name: Colchicum autumnale) and Lycoris (scientific name: Lycoris radiata) have traditionally been planted on the edges of fields.

Flowers Easily Confused with Colchicum
The flowers and foliage are similar to those of saffron (Crocus sativus) and crocus species. The key difference is that Colchicum flowers appear without leaves and produce foliage after flowering, classifying it as one of the "leafless flowers."

"Leafless Flowers" A representative flower in this category is the Lycoris (Lycoris radiata).

Common Name: Colchicum
Scientific Name: Colchicum autumnale
Other Names: Colchicum, autumn crocus, autumn lily
Classification: Kingdom: Plantae, Angiosperms, Monocots, Order: Liliales, Family: Colchicaceae, Genus: Colchicum
Origin: Europe to North Africa
Plant Height: 15–20 cm
Bulb: Diameter 3–5 cm, Bulb Shape: Ovoid
Leaves: Basal, Lanceolate, Dark Green, Glossy, Length: 20–30 cm, Width: 2–7 cm, Alternate
Leaf Emergence: Leaves emerge the following year after flowering; they wither before the flowers appear.
Inflorescence: Solitary, Flower Color: Pink (wild species, cultivated varieties), White (cultivated varieties)
Flowering Period: Spring and autumn blooming (September to November), Winter blooming
Flower Stalk Length: 15 cm
Stamens: 6
Flower Diameter: 4–15 cm (cultivated varieties)
Note: All parts of the Colchicum plant contain the toxic substance colchicine, which is dangerous if ingested.

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