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Colchicum (Colchis in Asia Minor)

(Colchis, in Asia Minor, is its native country). Meadow Saffron. TRIBE Colchiceae of ORD. Liliaceoe. A genus of autumn or rarely spring-flowering plants, allied to Bulbocodium, but 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 require 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 3in. deep. Propagation is effected by increase of corms; 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 1/8in. 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 6in. 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). fl. deep rose-colour, bell-shaped. Autumn. l. linear, erect, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, narrowed at the base, appearing in February and March. Corm small, one (rarely two) flowered. h. 1in. to 2in. Mountains of South-east France and Switzerland, 1820. SYN. C. montanum. (A. F. P. 1, 74, not of Linnaeus.) C. arenarium umbrosum (sand and shade loving). A synonym of C. umbrosum. C. autumnale (autumn-flowering).* fl. bright purple, numerous, with very long tubes. Autumn. l. erect, lanceolate, dark green, 6in. to 1ft. long, and usually 1in. or more broad, appearing after the flowers. Corm large, egg-shaped. h. 4in. Europe (Britain). (Sy. En. B. 1544.) Of this species the varieties are very numerous, the best being: ALBUM, ATROPURPUREUM, DOUBLE PURPLE, DOUBLE WHITE, and STRIATUM.

C. Bivonae (Bivone's).* fl. prettily marked with alternate checkers of white and purple, chess-board like, radical; segments of the perianth elliptical-oblong. Autumn. l. linear, grooved. South Europe. C. bulbocodioides (Bulbocodium-like). A synonym of C. montanum. C. byzantinum (Byzantine).* fl. pale rose-colour, six to nine to each bulb; segments elliptical-oblong. Autumn. l. broad, undulating, plaited, dark green, or five. Corm large, roundish, depressed. h. 3in. to 4in. Levant, 1629. C. chionense (Chios). A synonym of C. variegatum.

C. luteum (yellow).* fl. yellow, 3in. to 4in. high, with ovate perianth segments. Spring. l. narrow, linear-ligulate, obtuse, concave, bright green. Kashmir and Afghanistan, 1874. (B. M. 6153.) C. montanum (mountain).* fl. lilac-purple or nearly white. February and March. l. short, narrow, lanceolate or linear, falcate, reaching about as high as, and developing simultaneously with, the flowers. h. 3in. to 4in. Mediterranean region, 1819. SYN. C. bulbocodioides.

C. montanum (mountain). A synonym of C. alpinum.

C. Parkinsoni (Parkinson's).* fl. white, tessellated and barred with purple. Autumn. l. ovate-lanceolate, wavy. Greek Archipelago, 1874. (B. M. 6090.) C. speciosum (showy). fl. clear red-purple, varying to deep crimson-purple, with a white throat; tube long; perianth divisions 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 and foliage. (B. M. 6078.) C. umbrosum (shade-loving). fl. violaceous-purple, long-tubed. Autumn. l. ligulate-lanceolate, fleshy, three or many, alternate. Capsule membranaceous, oblong, acuminate, three-lobed. h. 4in. Crimea. SYN. C. arenarium umbrosum. Like most of the genus, this species produces no leaves at the time of flowering; but soon afterwards they appear, and attain in spring a length of several inches. (B. R. 541.) C. variegatum (variegated). fl. rose-colour, marked with purple-violet checkers; segments lanceolate, acute. Autumn. l. oblong-lanceolate, channelled, margins wavy. Corm large, egg-shaped. h. 3in. Greece, 1629. SYN. C. chionense. (B. M. 1028.) There are two or three forms of this species.