''Colchicum zahnii'' is a species of plant in the genus '' Colchicum'' native to

southern Greece Southern Greece ( el, Νότια Ελλάδα) is a loosely defined geographical term, usually encompassing the Peloponnese peninsula and varying parts of Continental Greece (Attica is usually included), as well as the islands of the Cyclades, t ...

. It blooms in mid-autumn from rhizomatous

corms A corm, bulbo-tuber, or bulbotuber is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ that some plants use to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ( perennation). The word ...

. The flowers can be variable coloured, being a pale purple-pink to white and are often held wide open. The leaves are produced at flowering time and usually number 2 to 3. This species is similar to ''

Colchicum boissieri ''Colchicum boisseri'' is a plant species in the genus ''Colchicum'' (the autumn crocuses) native to southern Greece and south-western Turkey but cultivated elsewhere as an ornamental.Theodhoros Georgios Orphanides. 1876. Atti Cong. Bot. Firenz ...

'' in that the corms grow into large patches, rather than tight clumps like ''

Colchicum speciosum ''Colchicum'' ( or ) is a genus of perennial flowering plants containing around 160 species which grow from bulb-like corms. It is a member of the botanical family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia, Europe, parts of the Mediterranean coas ...

'' or '' Colchicum autumnale''.Autumn Bulbs by Roy Leeds (B.T. Batsford Ltd) 2006

References

zahnii Plants described in 1904 {{Liliales-stub