Colchicum cilicicum, the Tenore autumn crocus, is a species of flowering plant in the Colchicaceae family.[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
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Colchicaceae
Genus:	Colchicum
Species:	C. cilicicum
Binomial name
Colchicum cilicicum (Boiss.) Dammer
Synonyms[1]
Colchicum × byzantinum var. cilicicum Boiss. Colchicum bivonae Ten. Colchicum tenorei Parl. Colchicum tenorii orth. var. Colchicum bisignanii Ten. ex Janka Colchicum autumnale var. tenorei (Parl.) Fiori Colchicum autumnale var. todaroi (Parl.) Fiori Colchicum todaroi Parl.

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]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colchicum cilicicum.

This Liliales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e