colchicum autumnale

Colchicum autumnale, commonly known as autumn crocus, meadow saffron or naked ladies, is a toxic autumn-blooming flowering plant that resembles the true crocuses, but is a member of the plant family Colchicaceae, unlike the true crocuses which belong to the family Iridaceae. The name 'naked ladies' comes from the fact that the flowers emerge from the ground long before the leaves appear. Despite the vernacular name of 'meadow saffron', this plant is not the source of saffron, which is obtained from ...