autumn crocus

autumn crocus
any of several bulbous plants of the genus Colchicum, of the lily family, esp. C. autumnale, bearing showy, crocuslike white, pink, or purple flowers in autumn. Also called meadow saffron; Brit., naked ladies.
[1905-10]

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Any plant of the genus Colchicum (lily family), sometimes called meadow saffron, comprising about 30 species of herbaceous plants native to Eurasia.

The stemless, crocuslike flowers bloom in autumn. Several species are cultivated as ornamentals for their pink, white, or bluish-purple tubelike flowers, especially C. autumnale, C. bornmuelleri, and C. speciosum. The swollen underground stem of C. autumnale contains colchicine, a substance used to relieve the pain of gout.

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  • Autumn Crocus — could refer to one of two species of flowering plant:* the Autumn Crocus Crocus nudiflorus * the Meadow Saffron Colchicum autumnale , which is also known as Autumn Crocus …   Wikipedia

  • autumn crocus — n. COLCHICUM (sense 1) …   English World dictionary

  • autumn-crocus — rudeninis vėlyvis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vėlyvinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Colchicum autumnale), paplitęs pietų Europoje. atitikmenys: lot. Colchicum autumnale angl. autumn flowering crocus; autumnal… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • autumn crocus — /ɔtəm ˈkroʊkəs/ (say awtuhm krohkuhs) noun 1. any of several plants of the genus Colchicum, family Liliaceae, producing their flowers in autumn. 2. a perennial plant, Colchicum autumnale, with purple, pink or white flowers resembling those of a… …  

  • autumn crocus — noun Date: 1881 an autumn blooming colchicum (Colchicum autumnale) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • autumn crocus — au·tumn cro·cus .ȯt əm krō kəs n an autumn blooming herb (Colchicum autumnale) of the lily family (Liliaceae) that is the source of medicinal colchicum …   Medical dictionary

  • autumn crocus — noun a plant of the lily family with autumn blooming flowers. [Genus Colchicum.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • autumn crocus — noun bulbous autumn flowering herb with white, purple or lavender and white flowers; native to western and central Europe • Syn: ↑meadow saffron, ↑naked lady, ↑Colchicum autumnale • Hypernyms: ↑bulbous plant • Member Holonyms: ↑Colc …   Useful english dictionary

  • autumn crocus — au′tumn cro′cus n. pln any of several bulbous plants of the genus Colchicum, of the lily family Also called meadow saffron • Etymology: 1905–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • common autumn crocus — rudeninis vėlyvis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vėlyvinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Colchicum autumnale), paplitęs pietų Europoje. atitikmenys: lot. Colchicum autumnale angl. autumn flowering crocus; autumnal… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

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