Onion & Garlic Family [Alliaceae] |
status
flower
flower
inner
morph
petals
3+3stem
toxicity
11th February 2016, Compstall Navidation, Etherow valley, Marple, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
A typical woodland habitat. |
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. |
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]. |
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. |
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. |
POSSIBLY THE CULTIVAR G. nivalis 'Atkinsii' |
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. |
7th March 2009, Clitheroe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The green marks prominent at the tip of each inner tepal are, in this case upturned 'u-shapes' rather than chevrons. The inner side of the bract which once held the flower-head upright is a papery white. The outer petals are also longer and less wide. |
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. |
A DOUBLE-FLOWERED SNOWDROP (G. nivalis) |
Mutations Menu |
14th Feb 2017, Salwick, Lancaster Canal, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Double-flowered versions of common Snowdrop are quite common, perhaps becoming commoner. The petals are splayed out wider like a lamp-shade to accommodate the extra inner petals which have proliferated in profusion. |
14th Feb 2017, Salwick, Lancaster Canal, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The petiole of Snowdrops are very floppy allowing the flower to droop down, but this makes photography of the insides tricky, so here it has been lain face-up amidst moss, showing a sterling proliference of nested flowers, inner petals and stamens showing. |
14th Feb 2017, Salwick, Lancaster Canal, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Presumably the white centre is/are the style(s), which also seems quite fat. |
Easily confused with : other Snowdrops and their hybrids, and also with Hybridizes with :
Instantly recognisable 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.
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Galanthus | nivalis | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Alliaceae |
Galanthus (Snowdrops) |
Onion & Garlic Family [Alliaceae] |