Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Liliales Perleb
Family
Colchicaceae DC.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Colchicum L., Sp. Pl. 341 (1753)
Synonymy:
  • = Androcymbium Willd. (1808)
Vernacular Name(s):
Autumn crocus; Naked ladies
 Description

Perennials, cormous, or rarely with a rootstock; with crocus-like flowers in autumn, rarely spring-flowering. Leaves basal, rarely a few cauline, herbaceous to fleshy, usually produced in spring. Flowers 1–3, rarely more, from an extremely short underground scape. Perianth variously coloured, from deep lilac to white, rarely yellow; segments connate below, forming a very long stalk-like tube, spreading above and campanulate with 6 free lobes. Capsule septicidal. Seeds many, subglobose.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
Number of species in New Zealand within Colchicum L.
CategoryNumber
Exotic: Fully Naturalised2
Total2
 Bibliography
Hobbs, J.; Hatch, T. 1994: Bulbs for New Zealand Gardens. Godwit Press, Auckland.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Manning, J.; Forest, F.; Vinnersten, A. 2007: The genus Colchicum L. redefined to include Androcymbium Willd. based on molecular evidence. Taxon 56(3): 872–882.