Perennial. Corm covered with a brown to dark-brown coat. Roots fibrous, arising from one side of the basal part of the corm. Young leaves enclosed in leaf sheaths. Flowers 1-3, arising directly from the corm or on a very short scape. Perianth of 6 segments, united at the base of the segments to form a tube or split to the base. Stamens 6, epiphyllous. Ovary 3-celled; styles 3, free. Fruit a many-seeded capsule.

A genus of c. 100 species. Represented in Pakistan by 3 species.

Lower Taxa

• Colchicum aitchisonii (Hook. f.) E. Nasir
• Colchicum kesselringii Regel
• Colchicum luteum Baker

Related Synonym(s):

• Colchicum regelii Stef. = Colchicum kesselringii Regel
• Merendera aitchisonii Hook. f. = Colchicum aitchisonii (Hook. f.) E. Nasir
• Merendera persica sensu Hook. f. = Colchicum aitchisonii (Hook. f.) E. Nasir