48 
COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE. 
it is found growing in moist meadows, and is most abundant in the 
north and western counties; in some parts of Warwickshire it is 
very plentiful, and the provincial name is naked ladies, from the 
blossoms coming up without leaves. This and several other specie* 
of Colchicum,* are cultivated in our gardens for the sake of their 
beautiful blossoms; by cultivation, and sowing the seed, several 
varieties are produced, some having double blossoms, and others 
varying in colour. 
The root of this species of Colchicum consists of a solid double 
succulent bulb, covered with a brown membraneous coat ; the flowers 
which appear in autumn, are large, and of a pale purple or lilac 
colour, and rise immediately from the root upon a long naked 
tube ; the heaves come out in spring, are numerous, radial, spear- 
shaped, and of unequal breadth ; there is no calyx ; the corolla is 
monopetalous, and divided into six lance-shaped erect segments; 
the stamina are six, filaments tapering, white, and much shorter 
than the corolla, and furnished with erect pointed yellow antherae ; 
the germen is lodged at the root, from which issues three slender 
styles, reflected at the top, and teraiinated hy simple pointed 
stigmata ; the capsule is lobed, divided into three cells, containing 
numerous small globular seeds, which ripen the following spring, 
when the capsule rises above the ground, between the leaves, upon 
a strong peduncle. 
The active properties of Colchicum reside chiefly in the roots; in 
autumn the old bulbs begin to decay, and new ones to be formed, 
which are perfected the following spring; about the month of May 
the young bulbs are in the highest state of perfection, when they 
should be dug up for mediciiial purposes. 
Sensible and Chemical Properties, &c. The sensible 
qualities of the roots of meadow saff'ron seem to depend very much 
upon their age, the season in which they are dug up, and the soil in 
which they grow ; and to these circumstances we would ascribe the 
contradictory accounts given of their qualities ; some asserting the 
roots to be mild, and void of taste, f whilst others bear testimony 
to their great acrimony.| Baron Storck asserts, that on cutting 
tike fresh root into slices, the acrid particles emitted from it irritated 
the nostrils, fauces, and breast, and that the ends of the fingers 
with which it had been held, became, for a time, benumbed. " The 
* Five species, (four of which are exotic.) Vide Hort. Cant. 
+ Haller, Krapf, Kratochvill, &c. 
+ Ehrmann, Diss, de Colch. Basil, 1772, § 5. Murray, App. Med. Vol. v. p. 196, 
