Colchicum autumnale is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The reported severity is critical. Also known as Autumn Crocus Complex and Autumn Crocus.
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Ireland has no animal poison service for owners. Call your veterinarian. An Irish veterinarian can consult the Veterinary Poisons Information Service in the United Kingdom.
Giftinformationscentralen stopped answering questions about animals on 1 July 2018. Call your veterinarian or an animal hospital.
Oral Irritation Vomiting Diarrhea Shock Multi-Organ Damage Bone Marrow Suppression Drooling Abdominal Pain Bloody Diarrhea Seizures Liver Failure Kidney Failure Weakness Cardiovascular Collapse
The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.
Colchicum autumnale, commonly known as autumn crocus, meadow saffron, naked boys or naked ladies, is a toxic autumn-blooming flowering plant that resembles the true crocuses, but is a member of the plant family Colchicaceae, unlike the true crocuses, which belong to the family Iridaceae. It is called "naked boys/ladies" because the flowers emerge from the ground long before the leaves appear. Despite the vernacular name of "meadow saffron", this plant is not the source of saffron, which is obtained from the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus – and that plant, too, is sometimes called "autumn crocus".
Colchicum is lethally toxic due to its colchicine content. Its leaves have been mistaken by foragers for those of Allium ursinum (ramsons or wild garlic), which they vaguely resemble. This plant (and colchicine itself) poses a particular threat to felines. The corms of meadow saffron contain the highest level of toxins, but all parts of the plant are regarded as poisonous.
Also recorded as Meadow Saffron, Naked Ladies, autumn-crocus and colchicum.
Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.