Meadow Saffron
Meadow Saffron, Somerset
Single flower
6 anthers, 3 filiform styles
White petal tubes - naked ladies
Colchicum autumnale
Colchicaceae
Naked Ladies, Autumn Crocus
August to September
It is patchily scattered throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Meadow Saffron
It grows in damp grassy places, such as meadows, river banks
and open woodland.
Meadow Saffron is both native and an escape, cormous, perennial
herb growing up to 25cm.
Flowers are pale pink to mauve, up to 4.5cm and with 6 petals.
There are 6 orange stamens and 3 long, filiform styles.
The white, petal tubes are up to 20cm.
The deep green, oval to lanceolate leaves are absent during
flowering, but are found in spring, together with the egg-shaped
fruits.
It contains colchicine, which is cytotoxic to human cells and is
toxic to livestock.
However, it may be used in treating tumors.
A modified colchicine molecule has a protein attached to it that
makes it harmless. But the tumour enzyme specifically targets
the protein and removes it. The colchicine is then activated,
and the process of breaking down blood vessels and starving
the cancerous cells begins.
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Meadow Saffron, Somerset
Single flower
6 anthers, 3 filiform styles
White petal tubes - naked ladies
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