Seasonal Wild Flowers

Meadow Saffron

Colchicum autumnale

Colchicaceae

Naked Ladies, Autumn Crocus

August to September

It is patchily scattered throughout the country.

For a map see the National Biodiversity Network Gateway

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.

Meadow Saffron, Somerset

Single flower

6 anthers, 3 filiform styles

White petal tubes - naked ladies