Israel wildflowers: Steven’s Meadow saffron

Colchicum, Colchis, an ancient region on the Black Sea south of the Caucasus Mountains, now mostly the western part of Georgia, a region associated in the Greek mind with all kinds of sorcery.

stevenii, in honor of Christian von Steven (1781–1863), a Finnish-born Russian botanist.

• The standard author abbreviation Kunth is used to indicate Carl Sigismund Kunth (1788 – 1850), a German botanist.

Steven’s Meadow saffron, in Hebrew: Stavanit HaYoreh,סתוונית היורה (Hayoreh = first rain in season), florescence in October, November and December.
It is a geophyte that belongs to the Lily family (Liliaceae) along with the Lilies, Tulips, and Hyacinths. The Spring Flowering Crocus, in contrast, is a member of the Iris Family (Iridaceae) along with the Iris and Gladiolus. Native to West Asia and part of the Mediterranean coast, its natural environment is hard rock outcrops in the Mediterranean territory. The Colchicum stevenii is just one species of about 70 in the genus Colchicum. The leaves (linear) and flower appear the same time. The flower is 4-6 cm. large and consists of 6 petals, 6 anthers and three slightly twisted styles tipped with an inconspicuous yellow tipped stigma. In most cases they grow in bundles of 2-11 flowers.

Colchicum was one of the herbs highly prized and made use of by the enchantress Medea. It is poisonous, and, according to Dioscorides, kills by choking, as do poisonous Mushrooms. Gerarde recommends anyone who has eaten Colchicum, to “drinke the milke of a cow, or else death presently ensueth.”—-Colchicum is a herb of the Sun. Colchicum species contain Colchicine, originally used to treat rheumatic complaints and especially gout, it was also prescribed for its cathartic and emetic effects. Its present medicinal use is mainly in the treatment of gout; as well, it is being investigated for its potential use as an anti-cancer drug.