Colchicum triphyllum, G. Kunze

1. C. triphyllum G. Kunze , Flora (Regensb.) 29: 755 (1846)

(incl. C. catacuzenium Heldr. , C. clementei Graells , C. biebersteinii Rouy , C. bulbocodioides Bieb. , non Brot.).

Corm c. 2 x 1- 1-5 cm, oblong; tunic reddish-brown, membranous, evanescent, with a short neck. Leaves 3(-4), 3-4(-7) cm at anthesis, 12-15 cm x4-8(-10)m m at maturity, lanceolate, obtuse to subacute; margins scabrid or glabrous. Flowers 1—3(—6); perianth-segments 15-30 x 6-12 mm, purplish-pink, elliptical, obtuse, occasionally with filiform auricles at the base. Filaments 5-7 mm, glabrous; anthers 2-5 mm, purplish-black or purplish-green; pollen yellow. Styles straight; stigmas punctiform. Capsule up to 30 mm, oblong. Flowering (December-)February to March (-May) 2« = 20, 21. Open, stony habitats. S.E. Europe, from S.E. Greece to Krym; C. & S. Spain. Bu Gr Hs Rm Rs (W, K) Tu.

C. szovitsii Fischer & C. A. Meyer , Ind. Sem. Horti Petrop. 1835: 24 (1835), from S.W. Asia, is known from one locality in European Turkey. It is like 1 but with a coriaceous tunic and 2 (rarely 3) leaves per corm.

C. davidovii Stefanov , Bull. Soc. Bot. Bulg. 1: 69 (1926) ( Merenderà caucasica Davidov ), described from E. Bulgaria, is poorly known; it is said to be like C. szovitsii but has narrower perianth-segments with filiform auricles at the base. C. diampolis Delip. & Ćeschm. ex Kuzmanov & Kozuharov in Jordanov, FI. Rep. Pop. Bulg. 2: 402 (1964), also from E. Bulgaria, has auricles at the base of the perianth-segments, and further differs from C. szovitsii in its robust habit and more numerous, wider leaves; it has 2« =18.