Meadow Saffron
Autumn Crocus
Naked Lady
Scientific Name:
Colchicum autumnale
Family:
Colchicaceae
Flower Language
-
eternity
-
my best days are past
-
dangerous beauty
-
regretless youth
Description
A bulbous plant with the remarkable ability to bloom even without being planted in soil. It produces beautiful, translucent pink, white, or purple flowers close to ground level in autumn. The bulb can amazingly bloom even when simply placed on a table.
Trivia
- Called 'table flower' because it can bloom simply placed on a table
- Ancient Colchis (modern Georgia) was legendary for the Golden Fleece
- Introduced to Japan as an ornamental plant during the Meiji period
- Has the unusual growth pattern of flowering before leaves emerge
Uses
Ornamental
- Autumn garden coloring
- Indoor bulb cultivation
- Cut flower arrangements
Medicinal
- Source of colchicine for gout treatment
- Used as analgesic in medical settings
Caution:
The entire plant is highly toxic, so medicinal use by amateurs should be absolutely avoided. Medical use is limited to professionals.
Culinary
Not edible. The entire plant is highly toxic.
Other
- Educational material for horticulture
- Subject of botanical research
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Severe
Toxic Parts:
bulb, leaves, stem, flowers
Symptoms:
Ingestion causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, leukopenia, respiratory difficulties, and can be fatal. Cases of accidental consumption mistaking it for potatoes or onions have been reported.
Rain Lily
Zephyr Lily
Fairy Lily
Magic Lily
Scientific Name:
Zephyranthes candida
Family:
Amaryllidaceae
Flower Language
-
pure and innocent love
-
untainted love
-
expectation
-
news will come
Description
A familiar bulbous plant in Japan that blooms in summer, with rich flower colors including pink, red, orange, and yellow. With slender, evergreen leaves, it's often used for garden borders and along walls. Called 'Rain Lily' due to its characteristic of blooming after rainfall.
Trivia
- Has the amazing ability to bloom within 24 hours after rainfall
- Individual flowers last only 2-3 days, but bloom successively
- Introduced to Japan around 1845 during the Edo period
- White varieties are called 'Tamasudare', pink ones 'Safran-modoki'
Uses
Ornamental
- Garden border edging
- Garden groundcover
- Container cultivation
Medicinal
Caution:
As a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, it is toxic and not used medicinally.
Culinary
Not edible. The entire plant contains the toxic compound lycorine.
Other
- Cultivation practice for beginner gardeners
- Indicator of rainy season
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Moderate
Toxic Parts:
bulb, leaves, stem
Symptoms:
Ingestion causes poisoning symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and convulsions. Cases of accidental consumption mistaking it for chives or wild onions have been reported.
Japanese Anemone
Windflower
Autumn Anemone
Scientific Name:
Anemone hupehensis var. japonica
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Flower Language
-
fading love
-
fleeting thoughts
-
sensitive time
-
endurance
Description
Despite having 'chrysanthemum' in its name, it's actually a member of the Ranunculaceae family related to anemones. It blooms beautiful white to pink and purple flowers from mid-August to November. What appears to be petals are actually sepals, numbering 5-20+ depending on the variety. Also called 'Kibune-giku' after naturalization in Kyoto's Kibune area.
Trivia
- Despite having 'chrysanthemum' in its name, it belongs to Ranunculaceae, not Asteraceae
- Also called 'Kibune-giku' after growing wild around Kibune Shrine in Kyoto
- What appears to be petals are actually sepals
- Varieties range from single to double flowers
Uses
Ornamental
- Used as tea flowers in tea ceremony
- Material for flower arrangement
- Autumn garden coloring
Medicinal
- In China, rhizomes used for detoxification and fever reduction
Caution:
The entire plant contains toxic protoanemonin, so amateur medicinal use should be avoided.
Culinary
Not edible. The entire plant is toxic.
Other
- Distributed as cut flowers
- Subject for autumn landscape photography
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Moderate
Toxic Parts:
entire plant, stem sap
Symptoms:
Contact with the milky sap from broken stems can cause blisters and rashes in some people, and ingestion can cause gastrointestinal disorders.