Details Top

Internal ID UUID644025a9cea96312157278
Scientific name Colchicum trigynum
Authority (Adams) Stearn
First published in J. Bot. 72: 344 (1934)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Among peoples of the Hindu Kush and Kashmir, the plant corms were ground and taken as a tonic and restorer after debilitating fevers and inflammatory conditions, with these uses recorded in late nineteenth‑century Materia Medica. In Greek and Turkish folk medicine of the past, the corms of autumn colchicum were prepared as wine or aqueous infusions for gouty and rheumatic attacks. In southern Europe, a common practice was to make an infusion of the corms, sometimes sweetened, to ease painful joints; and in Greek traditional practice, a simple infusion of the corm was taken for short‑term relief of gout (Pereira, 1842; Frazer, 1920; John Martin Honigberger, 1852; Miller, 1968).

To prepare a mild colchicum infusion, finely slice or grate 2–3 g of dried corm, add to 200 ml of hot water, steep covered for 10 minutes, strain, and sip a small portion only during acute joint pain. Because colchicine is highly toxic and narrow‑therapeutic, limit the dose to no more than 1–2 mg of colchicine equivalent per day from all preparations, avoid repeated daily dosing, and do not use if pregnant, nursing, or in children. Discard any preparation that becomes cloudy, fermented, or has an off odor (British Pharmacopoeia, 2020; WHO Monographs, 1999).

The principal alkaloid responsible for the anti‑inflammatory action is colchicine, a tropolone alkaloid present in the corms and seeds; the plant also contains phenolics such as flavonoids and caffeic derivatives that contribute antioxidant potential (Steinmann and Guggisberg, 1953; WHO Monographs, 1999; British Pharmacopoeia, 2020). These constituents plausibly explain the traditional relief of acute gout and rheumatism, reflecting colchicine’s inhibition of neutrophil activity.

Modern relevance and clinical work have long centered on colchicine and the “autumn colchicum” species used in pharmacopoeias; “autumn colchicum” in commerce remains a source for colchicine extracts, while strict safety measures and dose guidance are emphasized across current pharmacopoeias and herbal monographs (WHO Monographs, 1999; British Pharmacopoeia, 2020).

General Uses Top

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Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Merendera mirzoevae Gabrieljan Biol. Zhurn. Armenii 39: 582 (1986)
Merendera trigyna (Steven ex Adam) Stapf Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss., Wien. Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 50(1): 18 1885
Merendera ghalghana Otsch. Zametki Sist. Geogr. Rast. 23: 65 (1963)
Merendera greuteri Gabrieljan Fl. Rastitel'nost' Rast. Res. Arm. 12: 15 (1999)
Merendera eichleri Boiss. Fl. Orient. 5: 168 (1882)
Merendera caucasica M.Bieb. Fl. Taur.-Caucas. 1: 293 (1808)
Merendera candidissima Miscz. ex Grossh. Fl. Kavkaza 1: 190 (1928)
Sternbergia caucasica Willd. Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. Gesammten Naturk. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 2: 27 (1808)
Bulbocodium caucasicum Endl. ex Heynh. Alph. Aufz. Gew. : 81 (1846)
Bulbocodium eichleri Regel Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5: 638 (1878)
Bulbocodium trigynum Adams Beitr. Naturk. 1: 49 (1805)
Colchicum caucasicum Spreng. Syst. Veg. 2: 143 (1825)
Colchicum monogynum M.Bieb. ex Schult.f. Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 7: 796 (1830)
Merendera trigyna var. ketzkhovelii Kuth. ex Sosn. Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk Armyansk. S.S.R. 2: 6. 1949
Merendera caucasica var. eichleri (Regel) Baker ex Miscz. Fl. Caucas. Crit. 2: 97. 1912
Merendera trigyna subsp. eichleri (Regel) Markgr. Kulturpflanze Beih. 3: 339. 1962 (1962)
Colchicum eichleri (Regel) K.Perss. Fl. Iranica 170: 18 (1992)
Colchicum ignescens K.Perss. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 191 (2007)
Colchicum mirzoevae (Gabrieljan) K.Perss. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 222 (2007)
Colchicum greuteri (Gabrieljan) K.Perss. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 127: 222 (2007)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English mirzoeva's merendera
English greuter's colchicum
German arche-noah-zeitlose
Dutch bulbocodium trigynum
Turkish Üç mahrut

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • Caucasus
      • North Caucasus
      • Transcaucasus
    • Western Asia
      • Iran
      • Turkey

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000764039
Tropicos 100170669
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77087131-1
The Plant List kew-349130
Open Tree Of Life 934007
NCBI Taxonomy 1094098
IUCN Red List 200282
IPNI 77087131-1
iNaturalist 436016
GBIF 2739783
Tropicos 100170762
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:533408-1
The Plant List kew-302969
Open Tree Of Life 685388
NCBI Taxonomy 1094124
IPNI 533408-1
iNaturalist 447054
GBIF 2739918
Freebase /m/0fm0zk
EOL 1003727
Wikipedia Colchicum_trigynum
Tropicos 50170235
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:971080-1
The Plant List kew-302832
Open Tree Of Life 89913
NCBI Taxonomy 1094071
IPNI 971080-1
iNaturalist 882516
GBIF 2739764
EOL 1003976
Tropicos 100170610
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77087132-1
The Plant List kew-349131
Open Tree Of Life 3967039
IUCN Red List 200283
IPNI 77087132-1
iNaturalist 436014
GBIF 2739760
Tropicos 100170633
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77087126-1
The Plant List kew-349103
Open Tree Of Life 408064
NCBI Taxonomy 1094082
IPNI 77087126-1
iNaturalist 1193221
GBIF 2740014

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Alkaloids of Merendera caucasica Ayhan Ulubelen, Mekin Tanker Georg Thieme Verlag KG 15-Jan-2009
doi:10.1055/S-0028-1097440
Polypeptides and amino acids in the bulbus of Merendera caucasica. Ulubelen A, Tanker M Planta Med 01-Dec-1975
doi:10.1055/S-0028-1097874
PMID:1208689

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Hydrocarbon derivatives / Tropones
3-[[(4-Cyclopentyl-1-piperazinyl)-imino]methyl]rifamycin 5030992 Click to see COC1=CC=C2C(=CC1=O)C(CCC3=CC(=C(C(=C32)OC)OC)OC)NC=O 385.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097440
Acetamide, N-(5,6,7,9-tetrahydro-2-hydroxy-1,3,10-trimethoxy-9-oxobenzo[a]heptalen-7-yl)- 541033 Click to see 385.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097440
Colchicine, (+)- 53278 Click to see 399.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097440
N-(5,6,7,9-Tetrahydro-1,2,3,10-tetramethoxy-9-oxobenzo(a)heptalen-7-yl)acetamide 2833 Click to see 399.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097440
N-[(7R)-1,2,3,10-tetramethoxy-9-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[a]heptalen-7-yl]formamide 92149270 Click to see 385.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097440
N-[(7R)-2-hydroxy-1,3,10-trimethoxy-9-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[a]heptalen-7-yl]acetamide 92165697 Click to see CC(=O)NC1CCC2=CC(=C(C(=C2C3=CC=C(C(=O)C=C13)OC)OC)O)OC 385.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097440
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alanine and derivatives
DL-Alanine 602 Click to see CC(C(=O)O)N 89.09 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
L-Alanine 5950 Click to see 89.09 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids
DL-Threonine 205 Click to see CC(C(C(=O)O)N)O 119.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
Lysine, DL- 866 Click to see C(CCN)CC(C(=O)O)N 146.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids
L-Allothreonine 99289 Click to see CC(C(C(=O)O)N)O 119.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
L-Arginine 6322 Click to see 174.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
Lysine 5962 Click to see C(CCN)CC(C(=O)O)N 146.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Arginine and derivatives
DL-Arginine 232 Click to see 174.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Aspartic acid and derivatives
(+-)-Aspartic Acid 424 Click to see 133.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
L-Aspartic Acid 5960 Click to see 133.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Glutamic acid and derivatives
DL-Glutamic acid 611 Click to see 147.13 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
L-Glutamic Acid 33032 Click to see 147.13 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Isoleucine and derivatives
DL-Isoleucine 791 Click to see CCC(C)C(C(=O)O)N 131.17 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
l-Isoleucine 6306 Click to see CCC(C)C(C(=O)O)N 131.17 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Leucine and derivatives
DL-leucine 857 Click to see 131.17 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
Leucine 6106 Click to see CC(C)CC(C(=O)O)N 131.17 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Phenylalanine and derivatives
DL-Phenylalanine 994 Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC(C(=O)O)N 165.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
Phenylalanine 6140 Click to see C1=CC=C(C=C1)CC(C(=O)O)N 165.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Proline and derivatives
D-proline 8988 Click to see C1CC(NC1)C(=O)O 115.13 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
DL-Proline 614 Click to see C1CC(NC1)C(=O)O 115.13 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Serine and derivatives
DL-Serine 617 Click to see 105.09 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
L-Serine 5951 Click to see 105.09 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Tyrosine and derivatives
DL-Tyrosine 1153 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1CC(C(=O)O)N)O 181.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
L-Tyrosine 6057 Click to see 181.19 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Valine and derivatives
DL-valine 1182 Click to see 117.15 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874
Valine 6287 Click to see CC(C)C(C(=O)O)N 117.15 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097874

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