Colchicum cilicicum
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colchicum cilicicum, the Tenore autumn crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae.[2] A bulbous perennial, it bears deep rose-lilac flowers in late summer, with barely any chequered pattern on the petals (tessellation).[3] It has a very noticeable white stripe down the centre of each petal, which gives it a star-like appearance at the base. The flowers tend to stand up to weather better than other colchicum blooms. The flowers appear before the strap-like leaves, giving this and other colchicum species the common name "naked lady". Although colchicums are called "autumn crocuses" they belong to a different family than true crocuses. There are in fact autumn-flowering species of crocus such as Crocus sativus, which is the source of the spice saffron. Colchicum cilicicum, by contrast, is toxic if eaten.
| Colchicum cilicicum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Colchicaceae |
| Genus: | Colchicum |
| Species: | C. cilicicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Colchicum cilicicum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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This species is native to Turkey and Syria.[1][4]
It is found in cultivation, and under its synonym C. tenorei has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5] (confirmed 2017).[6] The cultivar 'Purpureum' is also a recipient of the award.[7]
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