What is the autumn crocus?
Autumn Crocus, or Colchicum Autumnale , is a type of flower that resembles a real crocus - which generally flowers in the spring - but instead blooms in autumn. It is a heavy plant that can also quote during or after snow, and is alternately known as a "naked lady", because the flower can happen long after the leaves have died. Autumn Crocus contains chemicals used for medicinal purposes; These chemicals are also toxic.
Crocus regularly falls into the Iris family and it is a permanent flower, which means that in two or more years it blooms without having to be re -planted. Autumn Crocus, however, is part of the colchicaceae family , but it is a similarly resistant plant. It grows in different conditions, from forests to meadows, and it is a durable flower that can live and bloom in unfavorable conditions. While crocuses are more often flowering in the spring - they are a popular choice of gardeners are hard enough to bloom soon - they can also bloom in autumn, making it difficult to make the difference between common toa year and a real autumn step.
Autumn crocus grows from Corm, an underground bulb, which acts as a base for the plant. Corm is basically a storage unit for a plant that allows the plant to survive in harsh conditions, and differs from the actual bulb both in the texture and function. When the plant flowers from this base, petals are usually a shade of pink or white.
Chemicals in the plant have been used for centuries to treat certain health conditions. Autumn crocus contains colchicin that can alleviate DNA and arthritis symptoms. Chemicals affect cell division and have been tested for use in the treatment of cancer; Doctors have found that it is too toxic in doses necessary for effective treatment. Colchicine is strong anti -inflammatory, and although it can be useful for some purposes, it can be very harmful to others, especially for young children. The compound canKé cause fruit defects and may have severe side effects on adults.
the ingestion of autumn crocus can be toxic. Because it looks very much like a normal crocus, accidental ingestion may occur; Corm can also resemble wild onions, which further causes confusion. However, the plant is extremely toxic, and if it is used, it can cause kidney failure within hours. It is important to distinguish between safe step and harmful autumn crocus before using for cooking or ingestion.