Colchicum cupanii is a widespread species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae, known as the Mediterranean meadow saffron. It grows around much of the central Mediterranean Basin, reported from France, Sardinia, Italy, Albania, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, Sicily, Algeria, Malta and Tunisia.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Colchicum cupanii
Colchicum cupanii is quite variable. Some specimens have flowers that open completely to a star shape, while others remain cup-shaped. The pink to purple, untessellated flowers are small, up to 3 cm (1") in diameter, but are produced in abundance in the fall. The foliage is also produced in the fall.Autumn Bulbs by Roy Leeds (B.T. Batsford Ltd) 2006 Gussone, Giovanni. 1827. Florae Siculae Prodromus 1: 452, Colchicum cupani
Subspecies Two subspecies are recognized:
Colchicum cupanii subsp. cupanii Colchicum cupanii subsp. glossophyllum (Heldr.) Rouy - Greece, Albania, Montenegro
References