Colchicum
Colchicum, one of a group of crocuslike plants of the lily family. The most popular of the 30 species is called autumn crocus, or meadow saffron. Its leaves and flowers rise from the ground without stems. The blossoms are pink or purple. An alkaloid, colchicine, is obtained from the plant bulb. It is used in the treatment of gout and rheumatism and in plant breeding. Applied to sprouting seeds, the alkaloid causes doubling of the cell chromosomes, resulting in larger plants.
The autumn crocus is Colchicum autumnale of the family Liliaceae.
Colchicum leaves and flowers rise from the ground without stems.