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    Autumn Crocus

    Uncommon · Colchicum autumnale

    Healing · Alchemical · Magical · Poisonous · Defensive

    Terrain Forest, Grassland, Hills

    Description

    The autumn crocus has large flowers resembling lilies, with delicate, pale lilac petals. Its fruits develop underground. The plant's subterranean part is an oval corm measuring 1–3 inches (3–7 cm) in length. Externally, it is covered with dry, dark brown, shiny scales.

    Location and Habitat

    Autumn crocuses are primarily found in Europe, North Africa, and Western and Central Asia. The plant favors open glades, meadows, forest edges, and rocky slopes.

    Rarity and Availability

    Many species of autumn crocus are successfully cultivated in gardens and botanical collections, making them less rare in cultivation even if they are uncommon in the wild.

    Effects and Uses

    The autumn crocus is among the oldest medicinal plants. Records about it appear in ancient writings from Egypt, India, and Greece. The renowned Roman physician Galen considered the seeds of the autumn crocus an effective remedy for treating joint inflammation. Experienced adventurers often find that a potion made from this herb can help them cover great distances, enhancing endurance. However, if used improperly, the autumn crocus can be poisonous—but its toxin is not lethal.

    Harvesting & Preparation

    • Harvest Season. The autumn crocus blooms in the fall without foliage, making it easier to spot in open glades, meadows, and forest edges. A character must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom (Survival) check or Intelligence (Nature) check to locate the leafless, pale lilac flowers.
    • Preparation Methods. Medicinal or alchemical uses generally involve drying or boiling the seeds and corm. Making a single potion or salve typically takes 2 hours and a DC 12 Wisdom (herbalism kit) check.

    Items & Effects

    • Endurance Tonic. A mild brew distilled from the seeds of the autumn crocus.
      • Use. Consumed as an action (1 dose).
      • Effects (lasts 8 hours).
        • Traveler’s Stamina. The drinker gains advantage on Constitution saving throws made to resist exhaustion (PHB, p. 291) from forced marches and similar effects (PHB, “Travel Pace” section).
        • Joint Relief. The creature also has advantage on saving throws and ability checks against movement impairments caused by mild environmental effects (e.g., extreme cold, poison).
    • Prometheus’s Draught (Rare). A concentrated form of the plant tied to the legend of Prometheus’s blood.
      • Creation. Requires 8 hours, 100 gp worth of rare reagents, and a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check or Wisdom (herbalism kit) check. Produces 1 dose.
      • Use (Ingested). As an action, the creature drinks the draught, which offers intense effects for 1 minute.
        • Promethean Resilience. The creature gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks for 1 minute.
        • Fire Within. Once during that minute, the creature can add 2d4 fire damage to the damage roll of a single weapon attack or spell.
      • Side Effect—Fiery Agony. When the effect ends, the creature takes 1d8 fire damage (no save).

    Lore

    This plant is remarkable for its unique development—in the Middle Ages, it was given the name "son without a father" because of this characteristic. The autumn crocus blooms in the fall, during September and October, while it is in a leafless state.

    Myths from Ancient Greece tell that the creation of humans occurred thanks to Prometheus. Before then, only immortal gods existed, but with the permission of the warlike goddess Athena (daughter of Zeus), everything changed. Prometheus took earth and water and molded mortal humans, and Athena breathed life into them, and thus people came into being.

    However, not everything went as Prometheus intended. The first human, Lycaon, who settled in a place called Arcadia (historically Mesopotamia in the 3rd century BCE), sacrificed his own son to Zeus, which angered the god. Zeus immediately reacted to this act, and Lycaon was punished by being transformed into a wolf. But it didn't end there; Lycaon's flawed sons committed new atrocities, which Zeus's helpers continually reported. Yet Zeus didn't believe them, so he disguised himself as a traveler to see for himself and visited Arcadia.

    From Witch’s Herbs 5E, p. 14 · Fern Flower Press