colchicum

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Colchicum
    n 1: chiefly fall-blooming perennial cormous herbs; sometimes
         placed in family Colchicaceae [syn: {Colchicum}, {genus
         Colchicum}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Colchicum \Col"chi*cum\, n. [L., a plant with a poisonous root,
   fr. Colchicus Colchian, fr. Colchis, Gr. ?, an ancient
   province in Asia, east of the Black Sea, where was the home
   of Media the sorceress.] (Bot.)
   A genus of bulbous-rooted plants found in many parts of
   Europe, including the meadow saffron.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: Preparations made from the poisonous bulbs and seeds,
         and perhaps from the flowers, of the {Colchicum
         autumnale} (meadow saffron) are used as remedies for
         gout and rheumatism.
         [1913 Webster]