They have corms but are often referred to as having bulbs. I am at a loss to explain why you haven't been able to source them locally. Planting the corms is a far more usual way of propagating them than seed which is a really difficult way of growing them. Any reputable bulb company should have them..

As Floral says, no need to grow them from seed. The corms are sold in the fall, and even any decent garden centre should sell one or more varieties with their tulips and daffodils. This is the wrong season for the bulbs, reason why you now only find seeds offered ;-).

None of our local sources carried them last fall. Too expensive? You can find them online.

I've never seen them locally, but have several that I have bought online. I gulped at the initial cost (~$5/bulb) but a single bulb will create a good-sized clump in just a few years. The hardest thing for me is finding a spot where the large spring leaves can ripen out of sight while still being a good spot for viewing the short blooms in early fall. Ideally a spot behind a perennial that sprouts early but dies back before the colchicum bloom.

I actually don't mind the leaves, I find daffodil leaves FAR more offensive than colchicums.

But yes, it's best (imo) to buy from a specialist and remember that they do multiply at a pretty good pace, so you don't have to buy a hundred if you want a hundred, three years from now, your fifteen will probably be a hundred, if you treat them well. Some varieties multiply faster than others, of course.

I'd recommend (heartily) Odyssey Bulb (which just opened for this years orders...I think last week)...they have the largest compliment of colchs that I'm aware of. Don't wait too long, they'll be gone (I speak from experience)..and it's best to plant them before tulips and crocus are available locally. Then you get blooms this year for sure.