Scilla bifolia, L.

1. S. bifolia L. , Sp. Pl. 309 (1753) View Cited Treatment

(inch S. nivalis Boiss. ).

Bulb 1 O-2O(-3O) mm in diameter, pinkish under the dry outer scales. Stems (2-)5-20 cm, terete. Leaves 2(-5), broadly linear, 3-12 mm wide, appearing with the flowers and sheathing the scape to about halfway. Inflorescence 1- to 5(-10)-flowered, subsecund; bracts usually absent, occasionally minute; lower pedicels 10-30 mm, the upper much shorter. Flowers erect; perianth-segments 5-10 mm, bright blue to pale lilac, occasionally white at the base. Seeds 2-3 mm, with smooth testa. 2« =18, 36, 54. Meadows and woods. C. & S. Europe, northwards to Belgium and N. Ukraine. Al Au Be Bu Cz Ga Ge Gr He Hs Hu It Ju Po Rm Rs (C, W, K) Sa Si Tu [Ho].

Speta (Linzer Biol. Beitr. 8: 293-322 (1976)) distinguishes S. nivalis Boiss. , Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. 1 (5): 63 (1844) (2« = 18), by its narrower, deeply canaliculate leaves and violet flowers and reports it as occurring in Europe only in Greece; he has described a hexaploid variant as S. pneumonanthe Speta , Linzer Biol. Beitr. 8: 316 (1976) (2« = 54). Dwarf mountain plants from other parts of Europe, often called S. nivalis , have been shown to be only phenotypic modifications. Speta (Naturk. Jahrb. Stadt Linz 1973: 9-54 (1974)) calls similar plants from W. Europe S. bifolia subsp. bifolia and in C. Europe recognizes two other subspecies: subsp. danubialis Speta , op. cit. 16 (1974), with perianth-segments c. 8 mm and 2/z = 18, and subsp. drunensis Speta , op. cit. 17 (1974), with perianth-segments 9-10 mm and 2/2 = 36. He also distinguishes S. vindobonensis Speta , loc. cit. (1974), with perianthsegments c. 6 mm, darker blue with a white base, smaller lighter- coloured seeds and larger chromosomes; it has 2« = 18. The status of these variants from C. Europe and their relationship to the variation throughout the range of the species is not clear.