ADVERTISEMENT

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale)

Meadow saffron is an autumn-blooming flowering plant native to the Great Britain and Ireland. The poisonous plant is cultivated as an ornamental in temperate areas, though they are toxic. The plant contains a poison known as colchicine. Colchicine poisoning is comparable to arsenic poisoning. The symptoms appear within 24 hours of ingesting the plant. Symptoms of colchicine poisoning are vomiting, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain and kidney failure. After 24 hours of ingestion, the poison can cause multiple-organ failures which can result to death. There are no known specific antidotes for treating colchicine poisoning. Despite knowing their toxicity, these plants are used to treat certain diseases.