LILIACE^. 225 



SPECIES I.— COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE. Linn. 



Plates MDXLIV. MDXLV. 



lieich Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. X. Tab. CCCCXXVT. 

 BUM, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2540. 



Leaves 3 to 4, ascending, erect, strapshaped-elliptical (the inner 

 ones sometimes strapshaped), not undulated at the edges, appearing 

 in early spring after the flowers and with the capsule. Flowers 1 to 

 3, rarely more, pinkish-lilac, not tesselated. Stigmas elongate, lateral. 



In meadows. Local, and rather rare, though distributed over the 

 greater part of England. Not native in Scotland, but said to be 

 naturalised near Alloa, on the Forth, and in a deserted orchard at the 

 foot of the Pentland Hills, eight or ten miles from Edinburgh. Very 

 local and rare in Ireland, occurring about Kilkenny and near Carlow, 

 the banks of Shannon below Limerick, and a few other places. 



England, [Scotland,] Ireland. Perennial. Autumn (rarely retarded 

 until Spring), 



Corm flowering when the size of a small walnut ; at the time of 

 flowering neai-ly flat on one face, with a blunt raised ridge down the 

 flat face, the other side very convex, the base sloped away doAvn 

 toAvards the flat side, the whole enveloped in a shining chestnut 

 coat, on the outside of which there are opaque dark brown coats ex- 

 teiiding upwards nearly to the surface of the ground. Ovary buried 

 at the time of flowering. Tube of the perianth 4 to 5 inches above 

 the ground. Perianth segments 1^ to If inch long, oblong-elliptical; 

 the inner segments rather smaller. Styles hooked at the apex, at first 

 as long as the stamens, afterwards exceeding them. Anthers about 

 ^ inch long, yellow. Leaves 6 inches to 1 foot long, deep dull green, 

 slightly shining. Capsule li- to If inch long, deeply 3-lobed, trans- 

 versely rugose, splitting at the apex along the septa. Seeds about the 

 size of hemp-seed, globular, chestnut, roughened. 



A remarkable form of Colchicum autumnale is figured at Plate 

 MDXLV. Smith states that it was obtained by ]\Ir. Salmon from a 

 meadoAv near Devizes, Wilts, flowering in the months of April and 

 !May. The perianth segments are strapshaped, greenish-white, and the 

 anthers destitute of pollen. It is a monstrosity rather than a variety, 

 but so remarkable a one that it has been thought advisable to republish 

 the plate. 



Meadow Saffron. 



French, Cohhique d'aufomne. German, Herbst Zeitlose. 

 The bulb of this plant has long been valued in medicine. It was known to the 

 Greek physicians as a poison, under the name of coXx"-"*') hut was little em- 

 ployed in medicine until so lately as 1763, when it was recommended at the same 

 time with monkshood and other powerful vegetable di'ugs, by Baron Storck of 

 VOL IX G G 



