Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Prescription only medicine: colchicine

Inhibitor of mitosis and neutrophil motility. Contains colchicine for treatment of acute gout, Behçet’s syndrome and viral pericarditis; and prophylaxis of Familial Mediterranean Fever.
Oakeley, Dr. H.F. (2013). Medicines from RCP plants label list 5-2013.docx.

Other use

Colchicum autumnale L., Colchicaceae. Autumn crocus, meadow saffron, naked ladies. Distribution: Europe. Extremely toxic, containing colchicine which is effective in small doses in treating gout. It inhibits mitosis so is of interest in cancer treatment. It is used to treat Familial Mediterranean fever. It induces polyploidy in plant protocorms for the production of tetraploid forms which have bigger flowers and seeds.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. link

Toxicity

Causes vomiting and diarrhoea, sometimes fatal, followed by alopecia and anaemia due to inhibition of dividing cells
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Geographical distribution

  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Podcast

Colchicum autumnale L.

Family: COLCHICACEAE
Genus: Colchicum
Species: autumnale L.
Common names: Meadow saffron; Naked Ladies
Distribution summary: Europe
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Grassy sites:meadows, pastures and dappled shade
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants of the World (C)
Flowering months: August, September, October
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic, prescription only medicine


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