any of a genus of African and Eurasian plants of the lily family with flowers that resemble crocuses: genus Colchicum
the colchicine-containing dried corm or dried ripe seeds of the meadow saffron, used in medicine
[Latin genus name, from Greek kolchikon product of Colchis, an ancient region in Asia, home of the sorceress Medea; the plant was believed to be poisonous]