autumn crocus
autumn crocus Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of several true crocuses (genus Crocus in the iris family) that bloom in the fall, most notably the saffron crocus.
"The gardener eagerly awaited the arrival of the autumn crocus blooms to begin harvesting the precious saffron threads."
A poisonous, autumn-blooming European plant (Colchicum autumnale) of the family Colchicaceae, which produces crocus-like, pale purple flowers directly from the ground without leaves and is a natural source of the alkaloid colchicine.
"Livestock must be kept away from pastures where the autumn crocus grows, as ingesting even a small amount of the plant can be fatal."
Word Nuance & Usage
The common name 'autumn crocus' most frequently refers to the highly toxic Colchicum autumnale, which must not be confused with the true autumn-blooming saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) whose stigmas are safely used in cooking.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from its blooming season (autumn) and its physical resemblance to the true crocus plant, despite belonging to a completely different botanical family (Colchicaceae).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.