Distribution and Habitat C. colchicum grows in an isolated location in the south-west Caucasus Mountains, inland from the eastern coast of the Black Sea, in an area of the Transcausasum which used to be known as Adzhar, now part of Georgia. Classically, it is known from the Okum Gorge, south-west of Ossetia. It flowers from july to October, with the principal flowering period in September & October in the wild. It grows in woodland on dolomitic limestone, amongst tree roots and in rock crevices. It is to be found at altitudes of 300-800m (985 - 2,625 ft). Description Although first described as C. colchicum by Alboff, it was subsequently merged with C. purpurascens. In 1988, Grey-Wilson recognised a difference between the plant which grows throughout western Europe, and the isolated population 1,900 km (1,200 miles) away in the Caucasus.

He felt that although it had previously been described as Cyclamen colchicum Alboff, it was not sufficiently distinct to hold specific status and described it as a subspecies: C. purpurascens ssp. ponticum, saying that: ssp. ponticum has thicker, more leathery leaves than ssp. purpurascens, with the toothed leaf margins being more pronounced. The flower stems are also shorter and the flowers generally smaller.

In 1997, Grey-Wilson said that he had reached his 1988 conclusion on very little evidence, and having since studied the plant at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, now felt that it warranted specific status due to significant differences. He cites the most obvious feature as being the very thick and leathery leaves, saying that they are thicker and more fleshy than any other Cyclamen species.

The leaf shape is a marked broad heart shape, with the basal lobes clearly diverging - not overlapping as they often do in C. purpurascens. The are often as wide as long, and have a finely toothed, horny margin which gives a beaded effect. They are dark green with a narrow and uneven silvery pattern on the upper surface.

The flowers appear with the leaves, and are pale to mid carmen pink, slightly darker around the mouth. The petals are eliptical, slightly twisted, and 8 - 16 mm (0.31 - 0.62 inches) long with very slight auricles at the base.

Cultivation

In cultivation, C. colchicum reacts much like C. purpurascens, preferring shady damp conditions. It is reported that like C. purpurascens it is shy to set seed, and that this takes a whole year to mature. It is also said to be very slow growing, although personally, I have not found any marked difference in this respect to C. purpurascens.