Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus, "Inusafuran")

Japanese name: イヌサフラン
Scientific name: Colchicum autumnale

[Overview]
A perennial 15–25 cm tall.
It has an enlarged corm underground, and the outer coat of the corm is brown and fibrous.
The leaves are simple and basal, 3–8 in number.
They are lanceolate, 20–30 cm long and about 3 cm wide.
The leaves emerge in early spring and wither around June, when the plant goes dormant.
One to several flowers emerge from the center of the leaves.
The flowers are tubular, narrowing at the base, with 6 petals, and are pale wisteria pink.
There are 6 stamens.
The floral tube is long and the ovary is underground, but the fruit (capsule) ripens above ground.

[Uses]
Although poisonous, it is used medicinally.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by bulbs.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
In poor sunlight the bulbs do not grow large, so flowering the following year is poor.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
In spring and autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
When the leaves wither, either dig up the bulbs and store them in airy shade, or leave them planted as they are if the site is well drained.
Pests and diseases include southern blight.

[Notes]
It flowers using only the nutrients stored in the bulb, so it will bloom even if left lying on a desk.

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