Leucojum vernum

"Spring snowflake" redirects here. For the moth with this name, see Heterocampa benitensis.

Leucojum vernum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Leucojum
Species:
L. vernum
Binomial name
Leucojum vernum
Synonyms[1]
  • Galanthus vernus (L.) All.
  • Nivaria verna (L.) Moench
  • Erinosma verna (L.) Herb.

Leucojum vernum, commonly called the spring snowflake,[2][3] St. Agnes' flower (for the patron saint of virgins),[4] and rarely snowbell[5] among others,[a] is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae.[1] It is native to central and southern Europe from Belgium to Ukraine. It is considered naturalized in north-western Europe, including Great Britain and parts of Scandinavia, and in the US states of Georgia and Florida. This spring flowering bulbous herbaceous perennial is cultivated as an ornamental for a sunny position.[7] The plant multiplies in favourable conditions to form clumps. Each plant bears a single white flower with greenish marks near the tip of the tepal, on a stem about 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) tall, occasionally more.

The Latin specific epithet vernum means "relating to Spring";[8] its close relative, Leucojum aestivum, flowers in summer.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference WCSP_280568 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference RHS_1145 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.


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