MONOCOTYLEDONS 



173 



dried scales of the bulbs constitute the medicinal 

 drug. A bulb of this was found attempting to 

 grow after having been stowed away for more 

 than twenty years in the Museum of St. Bartholo- 

 mew's Hospital Medical School. 



COLCHICUM Family {Melantkacecs)} — Two 

 genera only represent this family in Great Britain ; 

 the Meadow-Safifron and the Scottish Asphodel. 



COLCHICUM {Colchicum autiimnahy Fig. 45). — 

 This is a local plant, but 

 occurs in meadows in 

 many parts of England. 

 It is well known by its 

 rose-coloured flowers re- 

 sembling those of the 

 Crocus, hence it has been 

 called the Meadow- 

 Safifron or Autumn Cro- 

 cus, but it has no relation- 

 ship with that plant. 

 There are some twenty 

 European and Mediter- 

 ranean species, but the 

 above is the only indi- 

 genous one ; several for- 

 eign species are cultivated in gardens. 



The Colchicum flowers in autumn, but its leaves 



^ Placed by some authors as a Tribe of the Lily Family 

 {Liliacea), 



Colchicum autumnale ; 

 Colchicum. 



