Family · Monocots

Colchicaceae

Autumn crocus, flame lily

Cormous and tuberous herbs producing colchicine; includes autumn crocus and climbing flame lilies.

Accepted species: 304accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 15accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈33 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Africamost native species · WGSRPD

Open Colchicaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Colchicum (autumn crocus)
Gloriosa (flame lily)

Genera

Colchicum166 spp.
Wurmbea54 spp.
Disporum31 spp.
Iphigenia14 spp.
Gloriosa11 spp.
Ornithoglossum9 spp.
Burchardia6 spp.
Uvularia5 spp.
Schelhammera2 spp.
Baeometra1 spp.
Camptorrhiza1 spp.
Hexacyrtis1 spp.
Kuntheria1 spp.
Sandersonia1 spp.
Tripladenia1 spp.

Where it grows

Africa118
Asia-Temperate101
Europe56
Australasia42
Asia-Tropical26
Northern America5

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Colchicaceae sits in the order Liliales.