Colchicum autumnale

Colchicum autumnale L.

Colchicum autumnale

A toxic, autumn-blooming flowering plant with solitary flowers that resemble true crocuses. It is known for its early blooming flowers that emerge before the leaves appear, and it has a bulb-like structure. The plant is cultivated as an ornamental despite its toxicity.

Details

Order:

Liliales

Family:

Colchicaceae

Genus:

Colchicum

Chemistry:

The plant contains colchicine, a potent alkaloid with a narrow therapeutic index. Colchicine is used in the treatment of gout and familial Mediterranean fever, as well as in plant breeding to produce polyploid strains.

Uses:

Flowering time:

Autumn

Sowing time:

Spring or Fall

Plant height:

10-25 cm (4-10 inches)

Flower color:

Varies, but often lilac-purple

Suitable habitat:

Lowland grassy meadows, often found in temperate regions of Europe and naturalized in other parts of the world.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

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