Research on the biology of Colchicum autumnale L., germination, flowering and colchicin content

Abstract

Common Autumn Crocus planted in spring of 1979, under the protection of Lolium perenne, has sprouted in 1980. during the first vegetative year the following plant parts had developed: the mezocotyl, root, hypocotyl, a small bulbotuber below the surface of the ground and the leaf, above it. The blooming spreads over a rather long period of time, reaching its peak in autumn, that is in the first half of October. Self fertilization is to be revealed with the plant - this is mostly allogamous. The plant displays a large variability, inas much as the colchicine content is concerned. The chromosome number in the somatic cells is 2n=38.