128 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES COLCHICUM 



health and happiness ; and the nuts form an important portion 

 of the presents of a bridegroom to the bride's father, 



Oolchicum (Colchictom autumnale), a bulb of the Hellebore 

 family (Melanthacese), native of the South of Europe. This is 

 rarely found wild, although it is common in gardens. It is 

 known as Meadow Saffron and Autumn Crocus. It has a 

 solid bulbous root (corm), from which crocus-like flowers are 

 produced in the autumn, succeeded by grass-like leaves. It is 

 found throughout the warm parts of Europe, and is highly 

 poisonous, but is of importance in medicine, more especially for 

 gouty affections. 



Coleworts and Kohl-rabi. (See Cabbage.) 



Colic - root, a name in the United States for Aletris 

 farinosa, a herb of the Bloodroot family (Hsemadoraceee), having 

 distichous, lance-shaped, radical leaves, from which rises a simple 

 flower-stem 1 to 3 feet high, terminating in a spike of white bell- 

 shaped flowers. It is one of the most intense bitters known, and 

 is used medicinally in many complaints. 



Colocynth {Citndlus Colocyntliis), a trailing annual of the 

 Gourd family (Cucurbitacese). It is common in Syria, Egypt, 

 and countries of the Mediterranean, and has become widely 

 diffused in other parts of the world. The fruit is about the size 

 and colour of an orange, has a smooth hard rind when dry, and 

 contains a soft spongy pulp, which is intensely bitter and poison- 

 ous, but is used medicinally as a purgative. It is the wild 

 gourd mentioned in the book of Kings. Its seeds are, however, 

 wholesome. The natives of some parts of North Africa, especi- 

 ally in the Sahara, deprive them of their skin and make a paste 

 of the kernel, which is eaten with dates. 



Colt's-foot (Tussilago Farfara), a perennial of the Com- 

 posite family (Compositse), common on roadsides and waste 

 places ; often seen abundant in railway cuttings. It has large 

 angular - shaped leaves of a greyish colour. It is bitter and 

 astringent, containing a large quantity of mucilage, and is much 

 used in cases of asthma, being smoked like tobacco. 



Columbine {Aquileyia vulgaris), a perennial herb of the 



