Scilla L.

27. Scilla L. 1

Bulbous perennials. Bulb perennial, ovoid to globose, composed of numerous free scales, progressively renewed each year. Flowers solitary or in a raceme or corymb. Bracts 0 or 1 subtending each flower; bracteoles absent. Perianth-segments free, usually blue or purple, rarely white. Filaments free, usually slender, inserted at base of perianth. Capsule subglobose, 3- lobed. Seeds 1-10 in each loculus, globose to ellipsoid, unwinged.

Many species, including several from S.W. Asia, are cultivated for ornament.

Literature: R. D. Meikle, Lily Year Book 25: 122-130 (1961). E. V. Mordak, Bot. Żur. 56: 1444- 1456 (1971). F. Spęta, Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 119: 6-18 (1971); Ann. Mus. Goulandris 2: 59-67 (1974); Linzer Biol. Beitr. 8: 293-322 (1976).

1 Bracts more than 4 mm, linear-lanceolate, linear or subulate

2 Bracts 4-7 mm, the lower less than half as long as the pedicels; leaf solitary, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate

9. monophyllos 2 Bracts more than 7 mm, about as long as or longer than the pedicels; leaves 2-12, linear, linear-oblong or oblanceolate

3 Leaves linear-oblong to oblanceolate, (8-)10-35(-60) mm wide; bulb 25-80 mm in diameter

4 Bracts 50-80 mm; filaments c. 2 mm wide, lanceolate- elliptical; inflorescence corymbose, subhemispherical; leaves usually shortly ciliate 13. peruviana 4 Bracts 10-25 mm; filaments 1-1-3 mm wide, lanceolate; inflorescence racemose, cylindrical to conical; leaves not ciliate

5 Leaves 6-10, 15-30 cm; inflorescence 5- to 15-flowered; perianth-segments 9-11 mm 12. lilio-hyacinthus 5 Leaves 3-6, 30-40 cm; inflorescence 30- to 40-flowered; perianth-segments 6-7 mm 14. beirana

3 Leaveslinear,2- 15mmwide;bulb10- 25mmin diameter

6 Bulb 18-25 mm in diameter; lower pedicels 15-50 mm

7. ramburei 6 Bulb 10-20 mm in diameter; lower pedicels 5-12 mm

7 Leaves about as long as scape; perianth-segments subacute

6. verna 7 Leaves usually longer than scape; perianth-segments obtuse 8. odorata 1 Bracts absent or not more than 2(—3) mm, ovate to triangular

8 Flowersappearinginlate summerorautumn,beforethe leaves; bracts absent

9 Leaveslinear,canaliculateor ± filiform, l- 2 (-4)mmwide, glabrous, gradually narrowed to the apex 15. autumnalis 9 Leaves linear-lanceolate, flat, 5-25 mm wide, papillosehispid at the margin, rounded and sometimes mucronate

at the apex 16. obtusifolia 8 Flowers appearing in the spring or early summer, with or after the leaves; bracts usually present

10 Stems 30- 80 cm, with more than 40 flowers; leaves 8-12

11. hyacinthoides 10 Stems 5-30 cm, with 1 -35 flowers; leaves (1—)2—7

11 Perianth-segments 3-5 mm; leaves not more than 8 mm wide; racemes 15- to 35-flowered 10. litardierei 11 Perianth-segments 5-15 mm; leaves usually more than

8 mm wide, always so if racemes with more than 12 flowers

12 Perianth-segments 12-15 mm; flowers nodding; pedicels curved, equalling or shorter than the perianth

3. siberica 12 Perianth-segments 5-12 mm; flowers ± erect; pedicels erect to ascending, at least the lower longer than the perianth

13 Leaves appearing before the flowers, longer than the inflorescence at anthesis; perianth-segments 9-12 mm

4. amoena 13 Leaves appearing with the flowers, scarcely as long as

the inflorescence at anthesis; perianth-segments 5- 10 mm

14 Inflorescence 1 - to 5(-10)-flowered; leaves 2(—5), sheathing the scape to about halfway; bracts usually absent 1. bifolia 14 Inflorescence 7- to 15(-20)-flowered; leaves 3-7, not or scarcely sheathing the scape; bracts always present

15 Perianth-segments 6-7 mm; bracts 1 mm, ± truncate

at base 2. messeniaca 15 Perianth-segments 9-10 mm; bracts 2-3 mm, auricu-

late at base 5. bithynica