The #meadowsaffron, or #autumncrocus, as it is also called, is a highly fascinating plant. Its purple flowers look like crocuses, but appear in early autumn, when most other plants are done flowering. This is also reflected in its German name #herbstzeitlose, which means âautumn messengerâ. From the ânakedâ flowers may also be derived the English moniker ânaked ladiesâ. The leaves, on the other hand, show up in spring and have been mistaken for bearâs garlic. A dangerous and potentially deadly mistake, since the entire plant contains the alkaloid #colchicine, which acts similar to #arsenic, and has no known antidote. In addition it has a long latency period, which makes poisoning with autumn crocus even more difficult to recognize and treat. While deadly, it is also made use of in medicine, for treating certain types of cancer, as well as in plant breeding, where it causes plants to grow larger and produce bigger fruits. A plant named #colchicon was first mentioned by #dioscorides. The specific name autumnale given by Linnaeus, refers to its time of flowering. The genus name Colchicum is derived from #colchis, the landscape on the Black Sea, most famously known for the witch #medea, who is told to have poisoned her enemies with meadow saffron, but also restored youth with its help. In Apollonius Rhodiusâ Argonautica, Medea rubs a salve on Jasonâs limbs, which contains meadow saffron. According to another legend, meadow saffron grew from the blood that dripped from #prometheusâ liver. However, the same story is also related to the Mandrake and both plants are candidates for the mythical plant named âblood of Prometheusâ. The #artwork shown here is one of my more #illustrative works, combining #symbolism and showing the #plantspirit in an #anthropomorphic form. It was first show-cased in 2017 at gallery Circle1 in Berlin, as part of the âBad Intentionsâ group exhibition. It is drawn with black #ink on paper that has been stained with coffee and meadow saffron flower extract. It is signed on the back and comes in a simple black cardboard passe-partout. #originalart #inkdrawing #sigillamagica #occultart #witchplants #poisonousplants #colchicumautumnale https://www.instagram.com/p/BrDcyOcniwg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jh4zy29oy070
