Colchicum (Colchicum) is a genus of plants belonging to the Colchicum family and including approximately 70 species. The Russian name accurately reflects the unusual development cycle of these bulbs. Leaves develop in early spring. By the beginning of summer, they die off, during the same period the seeds ripen. Flowering begins only in autumn.
The colchicum flower has a funnel shape, its height rarely exceeds 15 cm. In some species, several flowers grow from one bulb at once, forming bunches. During this period, there is no stem or leaves, only petals, stamens and pistils. Colchicum flower has an amazing structure. The photo shows its different stages. The style of the pistil is so elongated that its ovary is located in the bulb.
Pollination is done by flies or bees. The fertilized ovary, protected by the flesh and scales of the bulb, overwinters. In the spring, a few leaves (up to 4 pieces) are formed, covering the box with seeds, located in the lower part. The leaves are oval-elongated (about 30 cm), glossy, erect. They form a rosette on a small false stem. Having developed nutrients and given them to the bulb, the leaves die off. The box, when ripe, disperses the seeds. The plant goes dormant until autumn flowering.
The colchicum is unpretentious. It grows well in full sun, preferring light, nutritious, loose soils. It can be planted on the south side of ornamental bushes. The bulbs should be placed at a short distance (up to 15 cm), as in rainy weather the colchicum flower may lie down.
When to plant this non-standard plant, this begs the question. Optimally - during the dormant period, after the leaves have dried. Considering that daughter bulbs are formed annually, then once every 5 years a seating procedure should be carried out. Otherwise, flowering suffers from tightness. The depth of planting depends on the size of the corms, it can be from 8 to 18 cm. Divided nests should preferably be planted immediately in a new place.
The care of these plants is usual: weeding, loosening, watering, feeding. It should be noted that slugs love to eat the colchicum flower. To prevent this, the soil can be sprinkled with superphosphate.
All parts of the plant, including the flower, contain various alkaloids, the most poisonous of which are colchicine and colchamine. The second has found application in medicine, on its basis, drugs are made that stop the development of cancer cells. Colchicine is deadly to humans; 0.02 g or 6 seeds is enough for a lethal outcome. In case of poisoning, there is a slowdown in cardiac activity, an increase in temperature, a delirium, sharpstomach pain, loss of consciousness. Gastric lavage does not bring relief. Enveloping substances are needed, you need to take drinks with tannin - tea, milk, etc.
Because of its poisonousness, Colchicum flower is very undesirable in pastures. Ants are involved in its distribution, which take away seeds that have sugary appendages. A plant grown from a seed blooms only in the 7th year, but the formed bulb reproduces its own kind. According to some reports, the number of some species has been increasing in recent years.
If there are small children or pets in the family, then it is wiser to refuse to plant colchicum, because it can cause tragedy.
