Question

Meadow saffron is
(a) Gloriosa superba
(b) Smilax zeylanica
(c) Colchicum luteum
(d) Urginea maritima

Answer 1

Hint: They are perennial plants having bulb- like corms and are commonly called autumn crocus. The flowers of this plant consist of a toxic substance. Its characteristic feature is the appearance of the flowers from the bottom before the leaves.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Meadow saffron is known as Colchicum luteum. It belongs to the family Cochiaceae having a characteristic feature of true crocuses. They show the appearance of the flowers from the bottom of the plants even before the plant leaves appear.
- The genera Colchicum constitutes around 160 species that are perennial in nature and grow once a year.
- It is called by various common names that include naked lady, autumn crocus, and meadow saffron.
- They are called naked flowers because of the presence of flowers without any outer foliage covering them.
- The outer foliage covering is strap- like which occurs in the spring season of every year in the flowers.
- The androecium of the Colchicum consists of 3 styles while the stamens are 6 in number.
- Colchicum is very similar to crocus in appearance though it belongs to different families.
- Colchicum belongs to the family Colchicaceae while Crocus belongs to the family Iridaceae or Iris family.
- The androecium of Crocus consists of 1 style while the stamens are 3 in number.
- The flowers of both the plants occur during the late summer or autumn season.
So, the correct answer is ‘Colchicum luteum’.

Note: The term Colchicum is the name of the genus which is derived from the Greek word Colchis, which was the name of the region in the ancient Greek called Kolkhida and is called the Caucasus in modern Georgia. According to the toponym in Greek, the name Colchis is derived by the scholars from the Urartian word Qulha, called ‘Kolcha’.