534 COLCHICUM. t^^'^^SS VI. ORDER in. 



arising from the (op of ibc germen at the bottom of the tube. Stigmas 

 downy, recurved, linear. Fruit appearing in the spring with the 

 leaves, oblong, acute, smooth, inflated, on a long slender peduncle, 

 formed of three single celled capsules, united at the base, each con- 

 taining numerous roundish ovate brown seeds. 



Habitat. — Rich meadows, not common ; most frequent in the North- 

 west of England, in Suffolk, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire. 

 Nottinghamshire, Alloa in Scotland. — Lightfoot. 



Perennial ; flowering in September and October. 



The Autumnal Crocus, called also Naked Lady, from the circum- 

 stance of its beautiful flowers appearing without any leaves, is a plant 

 of extreme interest and value. It is interesting, from the remarkable 

 habit of its growth, its large leaves appearing in the spring with the 

 nurslings which it had cherished during the colds of winter, and which 

 are perfected in the more congenial season of the year, to propa- 

 gate its species in the scattering abroad its numerous seeds; and its 

 flowers, when almost all others have ceased to bloojn, burst forth and 

 deck the rich meadows even in an autumnal garb of fair and beauti- 

 ful forms : 



" Say what impels amid surrounding snow 

 Congealed, the Crocus flaming but to glow ? 

 Say what retards amid the summer blaze, 

 The autumnal bulb till pale declining days ? 

 The God of Seasons whose pervading power 

 Contrculs the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower : 

 He bids each flower his quickening word obey. 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins delay." 



White. 



The germination of the Spring Crocus (p. 39.) is similar to this, 

 but the appearance of its capsules is not so long delayed. 



Colchicum is also valuable as a medicine, its bulbs, flowers, and 

 seeds all possessing the same qualities, but in a greater or less degree : 

 this depends upon the presence of an alkaloid principle of Narcotico- 

 acrid properties, and is similar to that found as the active principle in 

 White Hellebore, Veratrum album, and others of the same genus, and 

 has been called Veratra. It is obtained in a whitish pulverised state, 

 and in small doses excites violent vomiting and purging ; it is ex- 

 tremely active, seeming, from the experiments that have been made, to 

 be poisonous to all classes of animals, and to act in whatever way it is 

 introduced into the system, always producing irritation of the alimen- 

 tary canal and nervous system. The bulbs and seeds of the Colchicum 

 are the parts of the plant selected for medical use. The bulbs are in 

 the greatest state of perfection after the disappearance of the leaves 

 and before the flowers appear, that is from June to about the middle 

 of August, and it is only at this season of the year that they ought to 

 be collected for medical use ; and to preserve its virtues, the bulbs arc, 



