(Meadow Saffron.)

Origin. - The dried corm and seed of Colchicum autumnale, known respectively as Colchici cormus and Colchici seminis. A plant indigenous in Europe, in the southern and central portions of which it is frequently found in pastures and meadows, flowering in September or October, and ripening its seeds in June following. The corm and seeds are official.

Description and Properties. - The corm is about 1 inch (25 Mm.) long, ovoid, flattish, with a groove on one side; externally brownish and wrinkled, internally white and solid; often in transverse slices, reniform in shape, and breaking with a short, mealy fracture; inodorous; taste sweetish bitter, and somewhat acrid. It should contain not less than 0.35 per cent. of colchicine.

Dose. - 2-8 grains (0.12-0.5 Gm.) in powder [4 grains (0.250 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Colchicum seeds are subglobular, about 1/12 inch (2 Mm.) thick, very slightly pointed at the hilum; reddish-brown, finely pitted, internally whitish; very hard and tough; inodorous; taste bitter and somewhat acrid. They should contain not less than 0.55 per cent. of colchicine.

Dose. - 1-5 grains (0.06-0.3 Cm.) [3 grains (0.2 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Both the corm (root) and seeds contain two alkaloid-like bodies, colchicine and colchiceine. These are closely related chemically. Colchiceine is said (Kionka) to be non-poisonous.

Official Preparation