AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



359 



Colchicum continued. 



plants, allied to Bulbocodium, bat with larger and broader 

 leaves, which do not appear till 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. On 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 conns ; 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 Jin. 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 

 Gin. apart, and leave them alone till 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). jL deep rose-colour, bell-shaped. A 

 1. linear, erect, 2in. to 2jin. long, narrowed at the base, appearing 

 in February and March. Conn small, one (rarely two) flowered! 

 h. lin. to 2in. Mountains of South-east France and Switzerland. 

 1820. SY.V C. mantanum. (A. F. P. 1, 74, not of Liniueus.) 



C. arenarinm umbrosum (sand and shade loving). A syno- 

 nym of C. umbrotuin. 



FIG. 496. COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE, 



C. antnmnale (autumn-flowering).* JL bright purple, num 

 with very long tubes. Autumn. I. erect, lanceolate, dark green, 

 6in. to 1ft. long, and usually lin. or more broad, appearing after 

 the flowers. Conn large, egg-shaped, h. 4in. Europe (Britain). 

 See Fig. 496. (Sy. En. B. 144.) Of this species the varieties are 

 very numerous, the best being: ALBUM, ATROPURPCRBUM, 

 DOUBLE PURPLE, DOUBLE WHITE, and STRIATUM. 



C. Bivonffl (Bivone's).* JL prettily marked with alternate 

 checkers of white and purple, chess-board like, radical ; seg- 

 ments of the perianth elliptical-oblong. Autumn. I. linear, 

 grooved. South Europe. 



C. bnlbocodioldes (Bulbocodinm-like). A synonym of C. mm- 

 tanum. 



C. byzantinnm (Byzantine).* /. pale rose-colour, six to nine to 

 each bulb ; segments elliptical-oblong. Autumn. L broad, undu- 



, 



lating, plaited, dark green, four or fire. 

 depressed, h. Sin. to 4in. Levant, 1629. 



Conn large, roundish, 



C. chionense (Chios). A synonym of C. variegatwn. 



C. luteum (yellow).* ft. yellow, 3m. to 4in. high, with ovate 



perianth segments. Spring. I. narrow, linear-ligulate, obtuse, 



concave, bright green. Kashmir and Afghanistan, 1874. (B, M. 



6153.) 

 C. montannm (mountain).* fl. lilac-purple or nearly white. Feb- 



ruary and March. L short, narrow, lanceolate or linear, falcate, 



Colchicnm Continued, 



FIG. 497. COLCHICUM MO.YTAXUM. 



reaching about 



and developing simultaneously with, 



region - "* syx 



FIQ. 498. COLCHICUM PARKI.NSO.NL 



C. Parkinson! (Parkinson's).* ft. white, tessellated and barred 

 with purple. Autumn. L ovate-lanceolate, wavy. Greek Archi- 

 pelago, 1874. See Fig. 498. fB. M. 6090.) 



C. speciosnm (showyX JL clear red-purple, varying to deep 

 crimson-purple, with a white throat ; tube long ; perianth divi- 

 sions oval September and October. L 1ft. long by 2in. to 4in. 

 broad, elliptic, sub-erect, narrowed to the obtuse apex. Caucasus. 

 The largest known species of the genus. Fig. 499 shows the 

 habit an* foliage. (B. M. 6078.) 



C. nxnbrosnm (shade-loving). JL violaceous-purple, long-tubed. 

 Autumn. L ligulate-lanceolate, fleshy, three or many, alternate. 

 oranaceous, oblong, acuminate, three-lobed. k. 

 SY.V C. artnarium wnfrnwuM. Like most of the 

 , , this species produces no leaves at the time of flowering ; 

 . soon afterwards they appear, and attain in spring a length of 

 several inches. (B. R. 54L) 



C. variegatnm (variegated), ft. rose-colour, marked with purple- 

 violet checkers; segments lanceolate, acute. Autumn. L 

 oblong-lanceolate, channelled, margins wavy. Conn large, ett- 



shaped. A. Sin. Greece, 1629. Svx. C. chiontn*. (B. 

 There are two or three forms of this species. 



