Scilla peruviana, L. Scilla beirana, Samp.

13. S. peruviana L. , Sp. PI. 309 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Like 11 but bulb up to 80 mm in diameter, with outer scales lanate; stems up to 50 cm; leaves 40-60 cm x 10-40(-60) mm; inflorescence 5-20 cm, densely corymbose, subhemispherical, (5-)20- to 100-flowered; bracts 50-80 mm, subulate; perianth-segments 5-14 mm; filaments c. 2 mm wide, lanceolate-elliptical; capsule ovoid, acuminate. 2« = 16. W. Mediterranean region, C. & S. Portugal.?Co Hs It Lu Sa Si. An extremely variable species within which many infraspecific taxa have been recognized both in Europe and North Africa. The Italian populations have also frequently been segregated as four separate species, for which treatment there is some supporting karyological evidence (E. Maugini, Caryologia 5: 167-177 (1953); 8: 370-378 (1956)): S. cupanii Guss. , FI. Sic. Prodr. 1: 416 (1827), a more slender variant from Sicilia with 7- to 15(-20)-flowered corymbs, pedicels only 30-60 mm, much shorter than the bracts, perianth-segments up to 10 mm, and 2n= 14; S. sicula Tineo ex Guss. , FI. Sic. Syn. 2: 813 (1845), from Calabria, Sicilia and Malta, with pedicels 40-60 mm, equalling the bracts, sparsely ciliate leaves, and perianth-segments whitish or violet; S. hughii Tineo ex Guss. , Fl. Sic. Prodr., Suppl. 162 (1832), endemic to Marettimo (Isole Egadi), with glabrous leaves 40-60 mm wide, deep violet perianth-segments and 2n=16; and S. elongata Pari. , Nuovi Gen. Sp. Monocot. 24 (1854), a robust plant from Sicilia, Sardegna and perhaps Corse with densely ciliate leaves, ciliate bracts, pedicels 50-100 mm and perianth-segments 10-14 mm.

14. S. beirana Samp. , Bol. Soc. Brot. ser. 2, 7: 125 (1931).

Bulb c. 25 mm in diameter, ovoid. Stems 30-40 cm. Leaves 3-6, 30-40 cm x 8-15 mm, linear-oblong, gradually narrowed at base and apex, acute, glabrous, the cauline exceeding the stem. Inflorescence 8-15 cm, racemose, 30 to 40-flowered; bracts 15-18 mm, subulate, entire; pedicels 18-25 mm, ascending to semi-patent. Perianth-segments 6-7 mm, bluish-violet. Filaments 1-1-2 mm wide, lanceolate. • N.E. Portugal ( Beira Alta ). Lu.

Subgen. Prospero (Salisb.) Chouard. Roots perennial, branched. Flowering in late summer or autumn before the leaves. Inflorescence 5- to 60-flowered; bracts absent. Germination epigeal.

15. S. autumnalis L. , Sp. Pl. 309 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Bulb 15-30 mm in diameter, ovoid. Stems 5-20 cm, minutely scabrid towards the base, up to twice as long as the mature leaves. Leaves 5-10 (absent or very short at anthesis), 4-15 cm x 1-2 mm, usually erect (occasionally up to 4 mm wide and more or less procumbent), narrowly linear and canaliculate or subfiliform, glabrous. Inflorescence an elongating 6- to 20-flowered raceme; pedicels 8-15 mm, ascending. Perianth-segments 3-5 mm, pinkish-blue to lilac. Seeds 2x 1 mm, ellipsoid, black, finely rugulose. 2« =14, 28, 42. Dry, grassy, places. S. & W. Europe, northwards to S. England and Hungary. Al BI Br Bu Co Cr Ga Gr Hs Hu It Ju Lu Rm Rs (W, K) Sa Si Tu.

16. S. obtusifolia Poiret , Voy. Barb. 2: 149 (1789).

Like 15 but stems 10-30 cm, 3-4 times as long as the leaves; leaves 2-5, 3-4 cmx 5—10(—25) mm, patent to recurved, linear-lanceolate, flat, papillose-hispid at the margin. Dry grassland and scrub. N.E. Spain and islands of W. Mediterranean region. BI Co Hs Sa Si. The European plants belong to the endemic subsp. intermedia (Guss.) McNeill , Bot. Jour. Linn. Soc. 76: 357 (1978); subsp. obtusifolia , from Morocco and Algeria, is more robust, with leaves 8-20 cm x 10-25 mm and 20- to 60-flowered racemes.