| Muscari botryoides | |
|---|---|
| |
| Naturalized in Austin, Texas. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Muscari |
| Species: | M. botryoides
|
| Binomial name | |
| Muscari botryoides | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Muscari botryoides is a bulbous perennial plant of the genus Muscari and one of a number of species and genera known as grape hyacinth. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant.
The flowers are close together, and are almost totally round. The lower fertile flowers point downwards, while upper ones, usually paler and sterile, point upwards. The flowers are bright blue with white lobes at the end in the wild species, but other colours are available, including white. M. botryoides is originally from central and south-eastern Europe, growing in open woodland and mountain meadows.[2]
The name botryoides is derived from the appearance of a miniature cluster of grapes.[3] M. botryoides is said to be much less invasive than species such as M. neglectum, nevertheless it is listed as invasive in Tennessee.[4]
- ^ WCSP (2011), World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2011-11-14, search for "Muscari botryoides"
- ^ Mathew, Brian (1987), The Smaller Bulbs, London: B.T. Batsford, ISBN 978-0-7134-4922-8, pp. 126
- ^ Johnson, A.T.; Smith, H.A. & Stockdale, A.P. (2019), Plant Names Simplified : Their Pronunciation Derivation & Meaning, Sheffield, Yorkshire: 5M Publishing, ISBN 9781910455067, p. 101
- ^ Beth Hanson, ed. (1 November 2002). Spring-Blooming Bulbs: An A to Z Guide to Classic and Unusual Bulbs for Your Spring Garden. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-889538-54-9. Retrieved 24 November 2012.