Asparagus Family [Asparagaceae] |
status
flower
flower
inner
morph
petals
(3+3)type
stem
toxicity
26th Feb 2014, Funtigton Church, Chichester, West Sussex | Photo: © Dawn Nelson |
Not quite so Alpine as its name might suggest, likes growing in churchyards and on banks (where it spreads if planted). Flowers blue on long petioles (flower stalks). |
26th Feb 2014, Funtigton Church, Chichester, West Sussex | Photo: © Dawn Nelson |
A very early flowerer, February to April. |
31st Jan 2014, | Photo: © Dawn Nelson |
Tepals in a symmetrical planar array, fully outstretched when open. Tepals between 5-10mm long. The leaves number but two, hence 'bifolia'. The leaves are very similar to those of Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica), gradually widening before tapering to a blunt and hooded tip. The plant grows yo a similar height as that too: up to 20cm, but the flowers number more than 1-2 and they do not face the ground. The petioles are also much longer than those on Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica). |
31st Jan 2014, | Photo: © Dawn Nelson |
Bracts beneath petioles either absent altogether or minute. Tepals joined just at their bases, if at all. The ovary is concolorous with the tepals (pale-blue), as are the filaments but the anthers are a darker shade (indigo) On this specimen a flower stalk has fallen off (it would have been the 4th one up).. |
Uniquely identifiable characteristics (once you have got to squills) Distinguishing Feature : Like all squills, they are poisonous. For differences between the various Squills see the captions beneath the photos.
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Scilla | bifolia | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Asparagaceae |
Scilla (Squills) |
Asparagus Family [Asparagaceae] |