372 FLORA HISTORICA. 



JNIEADOW SAFFRON. Colchicum Autumnale. 



Katural Order Spaihacece. CoUhicacece, Juss. A 

 Genus of the Hexandria Trigyjiia Class. 



Shakspeare says, in his play of Cymbeline, 



One that's sick o' th' gout, had rather 

 Groan so in perplexity, than be cured 

 By th' sure physician Death. 



To such sufferers we therefore address our history 

 of the singular plant which has been named Col- 

 chicum, from its growing so abundantly in the vi- 

 cinity of Colchis, a city of Armenia, celebrated for 

 its numerous poisonous plants, and as the birth- 

 place of Medea. 



It is thus noticed by Horace in the thirteenth 

 ode of his second book, 



Or temper- d every baleful juice 



AVhich poisonous Colchian glebes produce. 



Fabulous history informs us that this autumnal 

 flower owes its origin to some drops being spilt, in 

 the fields, of the magic liquor which Medea had 

 prepared to restore the aged iEson to the bloom 

 and vigour of youth ; and on this account the Col- 

 chicum was anciently regarded as a preservative 

 against all sorts of maladies. 



