Colchicum

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Colchicum \Col"chi*cum\, n. [L., a plant with a poisonous root,
     fr. Colchicus Colchian, fr. Colchis, Gr. ?, an ancient
     province in Asia, east of the Black Sea, where was the home
     of Media the sorceress.] (Bot.)
     A genus of bulbous-rooted plants found in many parts of
     Europe, including the meadow saffron.


     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Preparations made from the poisonous bulbs and seeds,
           and perhaps from the flowers, of the {Colchicum
           autumnale} (meadow saffron) are used as remedies for
           gout and rheumatism.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Colchicum
       n : chiefly fall-blooming perennial cormous herbs; sometimes
           placed in family Colchicaceae [syn: {genus Colchicum}]