SNOWDROP
COMMON SNOWDROP
Galanthus Nivalis
Onion & Garlic Family [Alliaceae] 
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Onion & Garlic Family [Alliaceae]
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flower |
inner |
petals 3+3 |
stem |
toxicity |
| 7th March 2009, Clitheroe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| A backdrop of Snowdrop. Snowdrops are perennial bulbs that flower early in the year even amongst snow in the very cold. |
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| 12th Feb 2010, River Lune, Scorton, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Each bulb produces just two or three long narrow, greyish-green linear grass-like leaves but which are stiffer and thicker than grass. |
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| 2nd March 2010, Bretton, Derbyshire. | Photo: © RWD |
| At the top of each leafless flower stalk hangs suspended a single white flower, hung loosely from a thin pedicel. |
| 1st March 2008, Lathkilldale, Derbyshire. | Photo: © RWD |
| There are three white narrow outer 'petals' (really tepals) and three inner white tepals half as long as the outer three. |
| 13th Feb 2009, Standish, Greater Mcr. | Photo: © RWD |
| Before the flowers droop, they are held 'head-in-palms', 'hear-no-evil' like by two bract-like spathe valves joined by a papery membrane. [Top of photo]. The bracts later open releasing the flower to droop downwards [bottom of photo]. |
| 27th Feb 2009, Brook Bottom, Greater M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
| Raindrop covered snowdrops. Three separate slender pedicels suspend three opening flower heads. The pairs of bracts which once held the flower-head upright are now left pointing skywards. |
| 1st March 2008, Lathkilldale, Derbyshire. | Photo: © RWD |
| The three outer tepals splay outwards; the three inner tepals remain close together. The inner tepals have a slight notch at the end where a light-green coloured chevron resides, nestling in and astride the two tips of the tepal. The leaves are pointed at the ends. |
| 7th March 2009, Clitheroe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| The green chevrons prominent at the tip of each inner tepal. The inner side of the bract which once held the flower-head upright is a papery white. |
| 7th March 2009, Clitheroe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| From above the three outer narrow tepals are splayed widely apart at 120 degrees whilst the inner tepals appear skirt-like, with a green frilly edge. |
| 2nd March 2007, Kettleshulme, Derbyshire. | Photo: © RWD |
| Hardle ever seen unless the flower is up-turned, the inner surface of the inner tepals have light-green strips; around the edge is a white border. Six yellow anthers are well hidden within the depths of the flower. |
| 2nd March 2007, Kettleshulme, Derbyshire. | Photo: © RWD |
| The three-celled ovary can just be seen emerging from the centre of the six yellow anthers. |
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Easily confused with : other Snowdrops and their hybrids, and also with
Hybridises with : Instantly recogniseable as: a Snowdrop (but which one...). There are numerous cultivars of (Common) Snowdrop, some of which are double-flowered forms. Over 500 cultivars and hybrids with other Snowdrops have been described. ANY TEXT GOES HERE |
 Galanthus |
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Onion & Garlic Family [Alliaceae]
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