Common Name(s)	Autumn Crocus or Naked Ladies
Latin Name	Colchicum Autumnale
Description	The rootstock consists of a solid corm with a coat of straight brown fibres. A solitary flower appears  wrapped in a delicate spathe without any stem. The purple lobes are divided into six petals and  there are three orange coloured stigmas. The leaves do not appear until the following Spring.
Hazards	All parts of this plant are poisonous, especially the corms and seeds. Children can be attracted to the seeds that rattle if shaken.
Effects	Burning of the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and difficulty in swallowing. In severe cases collapse and death.
Flowering Period	September and October.
Location	Damp meadows, pastures and commonly in the English Midlands. Also many gardens.