Colchicum cupanii, Guss.

4. C. cupanii Guss. , Fl. Sic. Prodr. 1: 452-3 (1827).

Corm 1-2 x 1-1-5 cm, ovoid; tunic dark brown, coriaceous, with a short neck. Leaves 2(-3), up to 8(—10) cm at anthesis, up to 15 cm x 10-18 mm (rarely only 7 cm x 2-3 mm) at maturity, linear to linear-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, glabrous, rarely ciliate at base. Flowers 1—5(—12); perianth-segments up to 25 x 3-5 mm, purplish-pink, narrowly elliptical, obtuse to acute. Filaments up to 12mm; anthers 2-3 mm, purplish-black; pollen yellow. Styles straight; stigmas punctiform. Capsule c. 15 mm, oblong. Flowering September to December. 2m= 54. Rocky ground. Mediterranean region, westwards to S.E. France; local.?A1?Cr Ga Gr It Sa Si.

C. cousturieri W. Greuter , Candollea 22: 247 (1967), described from two islands off the S. coast of Kriti, is doubtfully distinct, apparently differing only in the longitudinally purple-striped perianth-segments.