Colchicum atropurpureum is a small flowered Colchicum which has blooms that open pink and then turn to a darker shade of red-purple. This plant is often confused with Colchicum autumnale.[1] It is considered unresolved, or species inquirenda, according to The Plant List.[2]
Colchicum atropurpureum was described in 1934 by William Stearn, based on a name proposed by Otto Stapf for plants cultivated in Cambridge University Botanic Garden.[3] [4] These plants were introduced into cultivation by a Dutch firm, allegedly from plants collected in the Meuse valley in France that may have been garden escapees.[5] There are mentions to a Colchicum autumnale var. atropurpureum prior to the description of Colchicum atropurpureum,[6] [7] but it is unclear if these refer to the same species described by Stearn.[4]
The species has since been considered a synonym of C. autumnale,[8] but other authors have considered it more similar to C. turcicum.[9] [4] Due to the uncertainty surrounding the name, it has been proposed to consider it a cultivar, Colchicum 'Atropurpureum'.[4]