Scilla bifolia

Scilla bifolia (alpine squill[1] or two-leaf squill) is a herbaceous perennial growing from an underground bulb,[2] belonging to the genus Scilla of the family Asparagaceae.

Scilla bifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Genus: Scilla
Species:
S. bifolia
Binomial name
Scilla bifolia

The specific epithet bifolia means "twin leaved".[3]

Description

Scilla bifolia grows from a bulb 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) across.[2] There are two or rarely three lance-shaped, curved, fleshy and shiny leaves[2] and the bases of the leaves clasp up to about the half of the stem (amplexicaul).[2]

The flowering stems are erect and unbranched, 10–20 cm (4–8 in) high.[2] The raceme bears 6-10 flowers, each 1 cm (0.4 in) across.[2]

The flowers of Scilla bifolia are upward-facing, unlike the nodding flowers of Scilla siberica (Siberian squill). They bloom from early to late spring. The six tepals are deep violet-blue, more rarely white, pink, or purple.[2] The fruit is a capsule 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) across.[2]

S. bifolia has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4][5]

White form

Taxonomy

Subspecies
  • Scilla bifolia subsp. bifolia
  • Scilla bifolia subsp. buekkensis (Speta) Soó
  • Scilla bifolia subsp. rara Trávníček
  • Scilla bifolia subsp. spetana (Kereszty) Trávníček
Cultivars

The cultivated variety 'Rosea' has pale pink or white flowers.

Synonyms

Synonyms of Scilla bifolia include:

  • Adenoscilla bifolia (L.) Gren.
  • Anthericum bifolium (L.) Scop. [1771]
  • Genlisa bifolia (L.) Raf. [1840]
  • Hyacinthus bifolia (L.) E.H.L.Krause in Sturm [1906]
  • Ornithogalum bifolium (L.) Neck. [1770]
  • Scilla alpina Schur [1852]
  • Scilla carnea Sweet [1830]
  • Scilla decidua Speta [1976]
  • Scilla dubia K.Koch [1847]
  • Scilla longistylosa Speta [1976]
  • Scilla minor K.Koch [1847]
  • Scilla nivalis Boiss. [1844]
  • Scilla pleiophylla Speta [1980]
  • Scilla resslii Speta [1977]
  • Scilla secunda Janka [1856]
  • Scilla silvatica Czetz [1872]
  • Scilla uluensis Speta [1976]
  • Scilla voethorum Speta [1980]
  • Scilla xanthandra K.Koch [1847]
  • Stellaris bifolia (L.) Moench

Distribution

Scilla bifolia is native to Europe and western Russia south through Turkey to Syria.[6] The plant is found in shady places, woods of beech or deciduous trees, and mountain grasslands.[2] It grows at an altitude of 100–2,000 m (330–6,560 ft) above sea level.[2]

  • Scilla bifolia plants
gollark: *More* things would become SaaS, I mean.
gollark: I also did.
gollark: National security reasons, I assume.
gollark: If you enforced that, everything would just instantaneously become SaaS.
gollark: I introduced a bug while I was compactifying it slightly. I found out where the bug is, but it would be really annoying to fix.

References
  1. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982 Vol. III, pg. 365
  3. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  4. "RHS Plant Selector - Scilla bifolia". Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  5. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 9. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  6. "Scilla bifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  • T.G. Tutin, V.H. Heywood et alii, Flora Europaea, Cambridge University Press, 1976

Data related to Scilla bifolia at Wikispecies

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