Final answer:
Autumn crocus and meadow saffron toxicity leads to severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, which last 6-9 hours, and potentially fatal liver damage, gastrointestinal bleeding, coma, and kidney failure within seven days of ingestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sign and symptoms of autumn crocus and meadow saffron toxicity involve severe gastrointestinal effects, including acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms can persist for 6 to 9 hours and can be a result of the ingestion of plant toxins.
Specifically, the toxic compounds found in these plants are amatoxins such as γ-amanitin, ß-amanitin, and α-amanitin. These toxins target the liver and can lead to severe outcomes such as gastrointestinal bleeding, coma, kidney failure, and even death if not treated promptly and effectively. The critical period for these severe symptoms to develop is within seven days of consuming the plant material.