AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 359 
Colchicum- continued. 
plants, allied to Bulbocodium, but with larger and broader 
leaves, which do not appear til spring. Stamens six; 
styles three, free, filiform; ovary deeply three-grooved. 
Colchicums are among the most beautiful of autumnal 
flowering plants, and their cultivation is of the easiest. 
Some growers lift annually, and store them for a month 
or six weeks in a dry place before planting; but this is 
not a good practice, as in no case must it be done till the 
leaves die down, which is often not before June or July; 
and, at the latest, they ought to be planted in August. 
There is less need to lift these than Crocuses, as they re- 
quire little or no division. The best soil is a light sandy 
loam, enriched with thoroughly decomposed manure; and a 
rather moist situation is most favourable. Оп dry soils, 
they often suffer considerably in hot summers. Colchicums 
look best in masses, and should be planted not less than 
Sin. deep. Propagation is effected by increase of corms; or 
by seed, which are usually produced freely, and generally 
ripen in June or July. It is best to sow them as soon 
as ripe, or in any case not later than September. A warm, 
sheltered place, out of doors, should be selected, and the 
seed covered with $in. of fine soil. The seed may come 
up during the winter, or may not vegetate till the following 
spring. 
The choice or rare varieties may be sown in pans, and 
be placed for the winter in a cold pit or frame. It is well 
to sow thinly, so as to be able to leave the seedlings for 
two years in the seed pans. Throughout the summer, 
water carefully in dry weather up to the end of July, or 
until the-tiny plants show signs of resting. After two 
years, plant out the bulbs in nursery beds, from 4in. to 
6in. apart, and leave them alone til they flower, which 
— will be in from three to five years from the time of sowing. 
The common Meadow Saffron (C. autumnale) and its 
varieties are most largely grown. The species itself may 
be purchased in large quantities tolerably cheap. 
C. alpinum (alpine). Л. deep rose-colour, bell-sha; Autumn, 
l. linear, erect, 2in. to 24in. long, narrowed at the ase, appearing 
in February and March. Corm small, one (rarely two) flowered. 
h. lin. to 2in. Mountains of South-east France and Switzerland, 
1820. SYN. C. montanum. (A. F. P. 1, 74, not of Linnzus.) 
C. arenarium umbrosum (sand and shade loving), A syno- 
nym of C. wmbrosum. 
c. autumnale (au -flowering).* f. bright purple, numerous, 
with longtubes. Autumn. 7 erect, peint dark green, 
біп. to lft. long, and usually lin. or more broad, appearing after 
к large, 
See Fig. 496. (Sy. En. B. 1 
very numerous, the best being 
DOUBLE PURPLE, DOUBLE WHITE, апа STRIATUM. 
C. Bivonz (Bivone’s).* f. prettil marked wi 
checkers of white and purple? cheas-Doabd Ps E ue grs 
ments of the perianth elliptical-oblong. Autumn. i linear, 
grooved. South Europe. > 
©. bulbocodioides (Bulbocodium-like) A synonym of C. mon. 
anum. 
с. byzantinum (Byzantine).* fl. pale rose-colour, six to nine t 
eac D pas LT Autumn, J. broad, Pa 
lating, plaited, green, four or five. Corm large, roundish, 
depressed. л, Zin. to din. Levant, 1629. Ew = 
C. chionense (Chios). A synonym of C. variegatum, 
C. luteum (yellow).* Л, yellow, дїп. to 4in. high, with ovate 
perianth segments. Spring. i. narrow, linear-ligulate, obtuse, 
EOM bright green. Kashmir and Afghanistan, 1874. (B. M. 
C. montanum (mountain)* 7. lilac- le or nearly white, Feb. 
Tuary and March. Z. short, narrow, lanceolate or caer, falcate, 
Colchicum—continuwed. 
Fig. 497. COLCHICUM MONTANUM. 
reaching about as high as, and developing simultaneously with, 
the flowers. A. Zin. to 4in. i i 
Lin bs E x ы “ы region, 1819. SYN. 
C. montanum (mountain) A synonym of C. alpinum, 
p 
“= 
Fic. 498. COLCHICUM PARKINSONI. : 
C. Parkinsoni (Parkinson’s).* Л. white, tessellated and barred 
with purple. Autumn. J. aH reus wavy. Greek Archi- 
= 1874. See Fig. 498. (B. M. 6090.) 
* Speciosum (showy). Л. clear red-purple, varying to de 
crimson-purple, Ch LB throat; tube long; inth divi 
Sions oval. September and October. 4. lft. long by 2in. to 4in, 
broad, elliptic, sub-erect, narrowed to the obtuse apex. Caucasus. M 
The largest known species of the genus. Fig. shows the _ 
P metn and foliage. (B. M. 6078) —— E 
. umbrosum ving). Л. violaceous-purple, long-tubed, _ 
Autumn, z, Tigulate lanceolate: feahy, three or many, alternate. 
Capsule membranaceous, oblong, acuminate, three-lobed, А. 
in. Crimea. SYN. C. arenarium umbrosum. Like most of the — 
fenus, this species produces no leaves at the time of flowering; 
ut soon afterwards they appear, and attain in spring a ot 
several inches, (B. R. сш NM с 
‘vari fi. rose-colour, marked with purple- _ 
c. variegatum (variegated). 
violet checkers; 
s lanceolate, acute. Autumn. Ё 
oblong-lanceola hannelled, margins wavy. Corm large, | 
sha h. wh nen 1629. SYN. C. chionense. (B. М. 
There are two or three forms of this species. — 
