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 āautumn messengerā. From the ānakedā flowers may also be derived the English moniker ānaked ladiesā. The leaves, on the other hand, show up in spring and have been mistaken for bearās garlic. A dangerous and potentially deadly mistake, since the entire plant contains the alkaloidĀ #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 namedĀ #colchiconĀ was first mentioned by #dioscorides. The specific nameĀ autumnaleĀ given by Linnaeus, refers to its time of flowering. The genus nameĀ ColchicumĀ is derived fromĀ #colchis, the landscape on the Black Sea, most famously known for the witchĀ #medea, who is told to have poisoned her enemies with meadow saffron, but also restored youth with its help. In Apollonius RhodiusāĀ Argonautica, Medea rubs a salve on Jasonās limbs, which contains meadow saffron. According to another legend, meadow saffron grew from the blood that dripped from #prometheusā liver. However, the same story is also related to the Mandrake and both plants are candidates for the mythical plant named āblood of Prometheusā. 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 āBad Intentionsā 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
