Scilla pratensis

• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Genus Scilla

Herbs, perennial , scapose , from bulbs. Bulbs perennial, ovoid to globose , composed of free scales , progressively renewed annually. Leaves few, basal. Inflorescences racemose or cymose , 1-many-flowered, sometimes bracteate ; bracts none or 1, subtending each flower. Flowers: perianth usually blue or purple, rarely white; tepals distinct to base , each 1-veined; stamens 6; filaments inserted at base of perianth, distinct; anthers dorsifixed , introrse ; pistil 1, 3-carpellate; ovary superior, 3-locular, septal nectaries present, ovules 1-10 per locule; style simple . Fruits capsular , 3-lobed, subglobose, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 3-30, not winged , globose to ellipsoid , elaiosomes present. x = 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

Species ca. 50: introduced ; Eurasia , especially Mediterranean area and sw Asia; s Africa.

A number of species of Scilla are commonly grown for their early, showy spring flowers, and present the possibility of becoming naturalized . In particular, S. bifolia Linnaeus, two-leaved squill, has been reported in Michigan (E. G. Voss 1972-1985, vol. 1) and northwestern Indiana (F. Swink and G. S. Wilhelm 1994). The summer-flowering hyacinth squill, S. hyacinthoides Linnaeus [Nectaroscilla hyacinthoides (Linnaeus) Parlatore], has been collected along roadsides near Mooringsport, Louisiana, and in Navarro County, Texas; it is readily distinguished from the spring-flowering species by its tall scapes (30-80 cm) with more than 40 flowers, and its more numerous leaves (8-10).

F. Speta (1998, 1998b) drastically split Scilla, placing the Eurasian members into 10-12 mostly small genera on the basis of molecular (M. Pfosser and F. Speta 1999) and karyological (J. Greilhuber 1982; J. Greilhuber et al. 1981; F. Speta 1979) studies, as well as morphological data. Some of these segregate genera correspond to subgenera and sections recognized in other Eurasian treatments over the past 75 years (e.g. , P. Chouard 1930; J. McNeill 1980; E. V. Mordak 1984), but others represent even finer splitting .[1]

Physical Description

Biology

Growth

Culture: Space 3-6" apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 7.8

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. (map)

Taxonomy

Notes

Publishing author : Waldst. & Kit. Publication : Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung. ii. 207. t. 189.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Scilla

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 23 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

S. amoena (Star Hyacinth) · S. autumnalis (Autumn Squill) · S. bifolia (Alpine Squill) · S. bifolia 'Rosea' (Alpine Squill) · S. maderensis (Madeira Squill) · S. mischtschenkoana (Early Scilla) · S. morrisii (Morris Squill) · S. numidica (Fall Squill) · S. orientalis (Oriental Two-Leaved Squill) · S. pauciflora (Scilla) · S. peruviana (Caribbean Lily) · S. peruvianavar. alba (Caribbean Lily) · S. pratensis (Amethyst Meadow Squill) · S. rosenii (Scilla) · S. scilloides (Squill) · S. siberica (Siberian Squill) · S. siberica 'Alba' (Siberian Squill) · S. siberica 'Boreas' (Siberian Squill 'boreas') · S. siberica 'Spring Beauty' (Siberian Squill) · S. tubergeniana (English Bluebell) · S. verna (Spring Squill) · S. violacea (South African Squill) · S. winogradowii (Wax Flower Orchid)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• A first report on the relations between climates and crops. By Cleveland Abbe. Prepared under the direction of Willis L. Moore, chief United States Weather Bureau. Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1905. url p. 193.
• Edwards's botanical register. London: James Ridgway, 1829-1847. url , , , , , , , , , , , .
• Nicholson, G. The illustrated dictionary of gardening: a practical and scientific encyclopædia of horticulture for gardeners and botanists /edited by George Nicholson; assisted by J.W.H. Trail. .. and J. Garrett. .. 9 1884 London: L.U. Gill, [1884]-88. url p. 433.
• The English flower garden and home grounds: design and arrangement shown by existing examples of gardens in Great Britain and Ireland, followed by a description of the plants, shrubs, and trees for the open-air garden and their culture / by W. Robinson. London: J. Murray, 1911. url p. 852.
• The Garden: an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches. London: [s.n., url , p. 287, p. 311, p. 387, p. 402, p. 517.
• The Gardeners' chronicle: a weekly illustrated journal of horticulture and allied subjects. London: [Gardeners Chronicle], 1874-1955. url p. 200.
• The Illustrated dictionary of gardening: a practical and scientific encyclopaedia of horticulture for gardeners and botanists / edited by George Nicholson. ..; assisted by J.W.H. Trail. .. and J. Garrett. ... London: L. Upcott Gill; 1887-1889. url p. 376, p. 433, p. 440.
• The bulb book; or, Bulbous and tuberous plants for the open air, stove, and greenhouse, containing particulars as to descriptions, culture, propagation, etc., of plants from all parts of the world having bulbs, cor by John Weathers...Illustrated by the author. London: J. Murray, 1911. url p. 417.
• The fruit, flower, and kitchen garden. By Patrick Neill. Adapted to the United States. Philadelphia, H. C. Baird, 1851. url p. 266.
• The practical fruit, flower and vegetable gardener's companion with calendar. By Patrick Neill. .. Adapted to the United States New York, C.M. Saxton and Co.[c1855] url p. 255, p. 255.
• Chouard, P. 1930. Types de Développement de lAppareil Végétatif Chez les Scillées. D.Sc. thesis. University of Paris. [Preprinted from Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 10, 13: 131322. 1931.]
• McNeill, J. 1980. Scilla. In: T. G. Tutin et al., eds. 19641980. Flora Europaea. 5 vols. Cambridge. Vol. 5, pp. 4143.
• Mordak, E. V. 1984. Scilla. In: P. H. Davis, ed. 19651988. Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands. 10 vols. Edinburgh. Vol. 8, pp. 214224.
• Speta, F. 1998b. Systematische Analyse der Gattung Scilla L. (Hyacinthaceae). Phyton (Horn) 38: 1141.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 15, 2012.
• The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Dec 27, 2011.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 5854619
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:540990-1
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 540988-1
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 891783

Footnotes

1. J. McNeill "Scilla". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 58, 315, 320. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.