Help identifying this beauty

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by Deborah McCormick, Sep 30, 2013.

  1. Deborah McCormick

    Deborah McCormick Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Campbellford Ontario Canada
    Hi there: Wondered if someone could possibly identify this little beauty for me. I was thinking Tulipa however this is for a friend and hers is just blooming now whereas I am in the same plant zone and mine bloomed months ago??
    Thanks to a great bunch here I use this site constantly.
    Regards
    Deb
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Andrey Zharkikh

    Andrey Zharkikh Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,214
    Likes Received:
    8
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah
    Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
     
  3. Deborah McCormick

    Deborah McCormick Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Campbellford Ontario Canada
    Thanks so much did not realize there was an Autumn version of a crocus
    Have a great day
    Regards,
    Deb
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,417
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    Agree with a Colchicum; not a Crocus.
     
  5. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,417
    Likes Received:
    501
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    There are autumn-flowering Crocus, but this is not one of them.

    Note that Colchicum (what your plant is) is very toxic if eaten.
     
  6. Deborah McCormick

    Deborah McCormick Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Campbellford Ontario Canada
    Hi Michael: Thanks so much for your input. Now I am truly confused is Colchicum
    not commonly referred to as Autumn crocus??? Help hehe
    Regards
    Deb
     
  7. Andrey Zharkikh

    Andrey Zharkikh Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,214
    Likes Received:
    8
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah
  8. Sundrop

    Sundrop Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,057
    Likes Received:
    98
    Location:
    Kootenays, BC, Canada
    I fully agree with Michael F that avoiding on this forum using common names causing confusion is a good idea. Deborah's response "Thanks so much did not realize there was an Autumn version of a crocus" very well illustrates Michael's point.

    As for Colchicum I prefer calling them "naked ladies". In my opinion this common name is somewhat less confusing, and well illustrates the nakedness of the flowers, not "dressed" in leaves.

    The leaves, Deborah, will show in spring, persist through the summer and die down before flowering.
     
  9. Deborah McCormick

    Deborah McCormick Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Campbellford Ontario Canada
    Sundrop: Great response to the common "Naked Ladies" Word association works best for me and I thought my friend somehow had missed taking pic with the foliage. Glad this was explained.
    Once again great job ladies and gents
    Regards
    Deb
     
  10. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,251
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    Naked ladies is used for other autumn flowering bulbs also, meadow saffron is probably more specific to Colchicum. But autumn crocus has been prevalent in the past - if you start trying to give common names the same level of precision as botanical ones the path leads inevitably to just using those when you want the same outcome.
     
  11. Deborah McCormick

    Deborah McCormick Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Campbellford Ontario Canada
    Hi Ron: Thank you so much for the reply. Now I am clearer. Have a great day
    Regards,
    Deb
     
  12. Andrey Zharkikh

    Andrey Zharkikh Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,214
    Likes Received:
    8
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah
    Sorry to pool this on, but in my opinion, giving a common name or several of them may help some people. In my practice, I frequently answer people walking by my front yard, what kind of flower I planted that is currently in full might. If I tell them a scientific name, I see a blank face. When I say also a common name, it clicks, and they associate the new name with something they already know.
    What happens when you just say "Colchicum autumnale"? People go to Google with this abracadabra and first thing they see is "autumn crocus"! And there, in the internet ocean, there is no-one to explain that this is not a true crocus. Here, we can.
    Just a thought...
     
  13. Deborah McCormick

    Deborah McCormick Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Campbellford Ontario Canada
    Hi Andrey: I have to admit kind of a common name person myself. I find as you mentioned more people are aware of a common name not to mention I can hardly pronounce most of the botanical names hehe
    All the best
    Deb
     
  14. Sundrop

    Sundrop Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,057
    Likes Received:
    98
    Location:
    Kootenays, BC, Canada
    Hi Andrey,
    In my post I am not talking about not using common names at all, I am talking about avoiding using those common names that are confusing.
    For example, in your first answer you could say "Naked ladies (Colchicum autumnale)", instead of "Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)". Please note, I am saying you could, I am not saying you had to.
    I believe "Naked ladies" is somewhat less confusing and is conveying well the character of the plant when in bloom. In my opinion not many people would say "oh, i didn't know these aren't flowers, these are naked women", but very many would say, or think, "I didn't know it is a crocus", while the plant is not a crocus at all.

    Missing one or a few words in what is being said can make all the difference in the world.
     

Share This Page