COLCHICUM, a genus of plants of the natural order Inelanthacem. The species, which are few in number, arc stemless, with flowers half subterranean like the crocus, the limb of the perianth and part of tube only rising above-ground. The flowers much resemble crocus-flowers, but are readily distinguished by having six instead of three stamens, and three styles instead of one. The seed vessel does not remain to ripen under-ground, as in the crocus, but after the flowering is over, rises in the form of Three little follicles slightly adhering to each other, on a lengthened stalk. The only British species is C. autumnale, the MEADOW SAFFRON, sometimes also, but incorrectly, named autunto crocus, which is plentiful in meadows and pastures in some parts of England and of the continent of Europe. It scarcely occurs as a native plant in Scotland. The flowers are pale purple; they appear in autumn, unaccompanied by any leaves; the leaves, which are large and broadly lanceolate, appear in 'spring, when the stalk which bears the ripening fruit rises amongst them. The whole plant is very acrid and poisonous, chiefly owing to the presence of an alkaloid called colchicine or cokhicia. Cattle are not unfrequently injured by it in pastures where it abounds. It is, however,
not difficult to extirpate, the repeated pulling cf it by the hand, as it appears above ground, being sufficient for this purpose; the roots soon become exhausted, and die. It is a valuable medicinal plant, and is much administered, in small doses, to allay the pain of gout and rheumatism. Repeated doses produce vomiting, purging, increase of the urinary secretion, and profuse perspiration. C. is generally supposed to have been the basis of the eau medicinale, long a celebrated empiric remedy for gout. The parts chiefly used for medicinal purposes are the corm (popularly called the root) and the seeds. The seeds are round, brown, and rather larger than mustard-seed; and fatal accidents have occurred from their poisonous nature.—Other species of C. appear to possess similar properties. The hermodactyls of the druggists' shops, which for many centuries have enjoyed an extensive celebrity for soothing pains in the joints, and are brought from the Levant, are believed to be the corms either of C. Tariegatura or C. bocodiaitles; the former of which is probably the C. of the ancients.—C. autumnak is not unfrequent in flower-borders, particularly a variety with double flowers.