Leucojum

Spring snowflake ( Leucojum vernum ), illustration

The genus of the knot flowers ( Leucojum ) belongs to the family of the Amaryllis family ( Amaryllidaceae ). Today, only the two styles Spring and summer snowflake snowflake belong to this genus.

Description

The nodes of flower species are perennial herbaceous plants. This form Geophyten onions as outlasting. Several linealische leaves are at the base of the plant.

The bell-shaped, hermaphroditic flowers are triple. The six bracts are alike and colored. The six stamens are free. The name derives from the genre 's early heyday was probably connected to the knot-like, inferior ovary. The capsule fruits contain numerous black or white seeds.

All plant parts are poisonous alkaloids such as lycorine and galanthamine by.

Systematics and distribution

The genus Leucojum was erected in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 1, p 289. The botanical genus name is derived Leucojum leukos from the Greek words for white and ion ( violet -like odor) for violets from.

In the genus Leucojum only two types are included:

• The summer snowflake or late flowering snowflake ( Leucojum aestivum L.) is spread across Europe to Crimea and the eastern coast of the Black Sea. The inflorescence there are several flowers: With two ways: Leucojum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum: With example of the variety: Leucojum aestivum ' Gravetye Giant'
• Leucojum aestivum subsp. pulchellum Briq.

• Leucojum vernum var carpathicum Sims
• Leucojum vernum var vagneri Stapf
• Leucojum vernum L. var vernum

• The two nodes flower species

Spring snowflake ( Leucojum vernum )

The remaining species of the previous ten Leucojum species ( today in the genus Acis ):

• Leucojum autumnale → Acis autumnalis: Acis autumnalis autumnalis var
• Acis autumnalis oporantha
• Acis autumnalis var pulchella

• Acis trichophylla var trichophylla
• Acis trichophylla var broteroi
• Acis trichophylla micrantha var

In contrast Leucojum Adans. = Matthiola.