Galanthus elwesii
| Galanthus elwesii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Galanthus |
| Species: | G. elwesii
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| Binomial name | |
| Galanthus elwesii | |
| Synonyms[3][4] | |
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Synonyms
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Galanthus elwesii, Elwes's snowdrop or greater snowdrop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to the Balkans and Asia Minor, where it is found in the countries of Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey.[1]
This herbaceous perennial plant grows to 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) high. It grows from a globose bulb, 2–3 cm in diameter. It produces two leaves which are obtuse, linear, and blue-green in colour. The flowers are globose, white, pendulous, 2–3 cm long, and solitary at the tip of a solid, pointed scape. The outer floral tepals are oblanceolate, with shorter inner tepals that are emarginate (notched at the apex), tapering towards their base with green patches apically and basally (see illustrations). The fruit forms a dehiscent capsule with three valves. Overall Galanthus elwesii is a more robust plant than G. nivalis.[5][6][7][8]
Taxonomy
Galanthus elwesii was identified by the British botanist Henry John Elwes on a visit to Turkey in 1874. In early April, whilst in the mountains near Smyrna (modern Izmir), he came across "the fine large snowdrop which now bears my name". It was then formally described by Joseph Dalton Hooker (1875) and named Galanthus elwesii, with an illustration by W H Fitch in Curtis's Botanical Magazine. Thus the species bears his name as the botanical authority.[5][9] Later the plants collected by Elwes were found to be Galanthus gracilis, but the name was retained for a different specimen.[10][11]
Distribution
A native of the Balkans and Asia Minor, the species has been widely introduced elsewhere.
Cultivation
Galanthus elwesii is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens where it easily naturalises. Bulbs planted in the autumn flower in the early spring. Propagation is by separation of bulbils after flowering.[6][7]
In the UK, the following have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
References
- ^ a b Davis, A. (2011). "Galanthus elwesii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T164896A5935589. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T164896A5935589.en. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ WCLSPF 2016, Galanthus
- ^ TPL 2013, G. elwesii
- ^ a b c Hooker 1875.
- ^ a b Dimitri 1987.
- ^ a b Hessayon 1995.
- ^ MBG, G. elwesii
- ^ Tropicos, G. elwesii
- ^ Harland 2016.
- ^ Harvey 2000.
- ^ "Galanthus elwesii". RHS Plant Selector. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "Galanthus elwesii 'Comet'". RHS Plant Selector. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus". RHS Plant Selector. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
Bibliography
- Davis, Aaron (1999). The genus Galanthus. A Botanical Magazine monograph. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-431-8.
- Harvey, M.J. (21 May 2000). "Davis: The genus Galanthus" (Book Review). Botanical Electronic News (250).
- Dimitri, M (1987). Enciclopedia Argentina de Agricultura y Jardinería. Tomo I. Descripción de plantas cultivadas. Buenos Aires: Editorial ACME S.A.C.I. see Enciclopedia Argentina de Agricultura y Jardinería
- Harland, Gail (2016). Snowdrop. London: Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781780236285.
- Hessayon, D.G. (1995). The bulb expert (2003 ed.). London: Sterling Publishing Company (Expert Books). ISBN 9780903505420.
- Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1875). "Galanthus elwesii". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 31: 6166.
- Yüzbaşıoğlu, Sırrı (2012). "Morphological variations of Galanthus elwesii in Turkey and difficulties on identification" (PDF). Bocconea. 24: 335–339.
- "The Plant List: a working list of all known plant species. Version: 1.1". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. September 2013.
- MBG. "Missouri Botanical Garden". Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- "Tropicos". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 6 October 2016.