Colchicum luteum Baker, Gard. Chron. n.s., 2: 33 1874.;
.
Corm ovoid, oblong, coat brown to dark-brown, membranous. Leaves 3-6, appearing at flowering time, linear to broadly linear, apex obtuse. Flowers yellow, infundibuliform, 3-4 cm across. Tepals 6, united below into a long, narrow tube, up to 9 cm long. Stamens 6, attached at the base of the perianth segments, included; filaments ; anthers yellow, basifixed. Ovary superior, trilocular; styles 3, filiform, longer than the stamens; stigma minute.
.
Fl. Per.: February to May depending on the altitude.
.
Use: The seeds and the corm contain the alkaloid, Colchicine, which is used in medicine to relieve pain and inflamation and in plant breeding work to induce doubling of chromosomes.
.

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_02551.jpg
Colchicum luteum Baker:
Colchicum luteum Baker

Family: Colchicaceae
Corm ovoid, oblong, coat brown to dark-brown, membranous. Leaves 3-6, appearing at flowering time, linear to broadly linear, apex obtuse. Flowers yellow, infundibuliform, 3-4 cm across. Tepals 6, united below into a long, narrow tube, up to 9 cm long. Stamens 6, attached at the base of the perianth segments, included; filaments ; anthers yellow, basifixed. Ovary superior, trilocular; styles 3, filiform, longer than the stamens; stigma minute.
Fl. Per.: February to May depending on the altitude.
Recorded From: Lahaul Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Elevation: 1500 to 3000 m altitude.
Use: The seeds and the corm contain the alkaloid, Colchicine, which is used in medicine to relieve pain and inflamation and in plant breeding work to induce doubling of chromosomes.

Yes the bulbous herb is so common in Kashmir valley that it covers meadows at most places. One of the earliest herbs to flower in Kashmir. 


.


Requesting id 20042012 ASP 05: No images visible now.
Here are photos of flowering plant from Srinagar, J & K photographed during third week of March. Requesting id.



/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Colchicum%20luteum.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Colchicum%20luteum%20-2-.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Colchicum%20luteum%20-3-.jpg

Sharing an early spring flower of Western Himalayas
Bot. name: Colchicum luteum
Family: Colchicaceae
Location: Paddar valley district Kishtwar J&K
Altitude: 2000 to 3500 meters asl
Flowering: March-May


/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Picture%20769.jpg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Picture%20768.jpg

Wild flowers for ID – (NSJ-06/072013-01) :  Attachments (3). 5 posts by 4 authors.
Photographed at Pahalgam-Kashmir in June 09. Leaves not present. Kindly suggest ID.

Seems Colchicum luteum (Liliaceae). The leaves usually appear after flowering. The flowers start appearing alongwith snow melt in March-April and the flowering is usually over by the end of May. Stray flowering in sheltered moist areas is sometimes observed till mid-June also.
I have photographed good wild populations of this species this year (May 2013) from Lahaul valley in Himachal Pradesh at altitudes varying from 2600 m to 3200 m.


 


/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Picture%20770.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Picture%20768-0.jpg

Flower for ID (21/06/2011 NSJ-02):
Identification of this flower is requested. Photo taken at Pahalgam hills, Kashmir. Leaves not visible.


Yes, I think this to be Gagea elegans (syn G. lutea).


Resembles to Colchicum luteum. Please see the eFI page on C.luteum




Colchicum luteum: 1 high res. image.
Kashmiri name: veirkin puash.


Yes, good click, thanks for sharing.


.



Colchicum luteum: 3 high res. images.
Location: Ganderbal J&k

Date of Collection:07-03-2022
Vernacular name: Veirkin poash.


Awesome photos !

I think ID is correct as it compares well with images at Flowers of India: https://www.flowersofindia.YellowColchicum.htm


Yes one of the earliest flowers to bloom in Kashmir valley. After 1975 I have never visited Kashmir in Spring to Capture it.


Mostly confined to graveyards


Very common on mountain slopes around Srinagar city


Yes sir.. most common



.

References:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *