208 THE STORY OF; PLANT, LIFE 
spathaceous bracts. The sheaths of’the leaves are 
long and thick. 
The flowers are solitary, arising from the corm, and 
appear later in the autumn. They are erect, and in 
shape like a crocus, pale purple or white. 
The ovary issubterranean. The perianth tube is 
very long, 2 to 6 in., with a long limb, campanulate. 
The stamens are included in the perianth and the fila- 
ments are thread-like. The anthers are yellow, oblong 
and open inwards, afterwards twisting outwards. 
The perianth is petaloid and divided into six 
segments. There are three styles with recurved tips 
which are stigmatic within. 
The capsules are three-valved, membranous, with 
three grooves, on short peduncles, ellipsoid, acute 
both ends, and they are concealed below the ground 
till the spring, when they rise above the surface, the 
stalk lengthening, and are then ripe. There are spring 
flowers which are imperfect and green in colour. 
The flower contains honey and is conspicuous, and 
the stigmas ripen before the anthers. Bees are the 
chief visitors, but in their absence the plant is self- 
pollinated. 
The capsules split open, and the numerous small 
seeds are dispersed around the corms. 
It flowers in August up till October. 
The seeds and corms yield a drug which has been 
used as a remedy for gout. 
It is called Colchicum in Latin, from Colchis, a 
country once famous for its herbal remedies. 
