Steven's Meadow Saffron

Steven's Meadow Saffron (Colchicum Stevenii)
Seventh in the "Flowers of Israel" Series

Steven's Meadow Saffron blossoms immediately after the first rains. The flower's name in Arabic means "goodbye", as if the flower comes to say "goodbye" to the summer. The flowers of the Steven's Meadow Saffron are bisexual (with both stigma and stamens) but many of the plants also bear male flowers with only stamens that do not produce fruit.

The buds of the Steven's Meadow Saffron contain a poison (Colchicine) which causes DNA mutations, but in the past, they were used for the healing of wounds, for treating aches in the joints, and for fabricating toxic substances.

The Steven's Meadow-Saffron is also known in Arabic as the "witch's oil lamp" because of its poison and the resemblance of the crocus bulb to an ancient clay lamp. It is reasonable to suppose that this Arabic name was influenced by European witchcraft tradition.

*The above texts are based on: Amots Dafni and Noam Avitsel, Mi-Koter ve-ud Tsamereth – 200 Millim al 200 Tsemachim (in Hebrew) (Haifa: Pardes Publishers, 2018)


Design: Aharon Shevo

Description
Face: A beautiful flower depiction in full color. Around the border, the name of the flower in English and Hebrew. To the right, the Holy Land Mint trademark , to the left the weight, metal fineness and mint year.
Common Reverse: A variety of flowers.