Flora of North America species comparison

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Galanthus

Galanthus nivalis

perce-neige, snowdrop

common snowdrop, snowdrop
Habit Herbs, perennial, scapose, from brown, tunicate, ovoid to globose bulbs; offset bulbs often present. Plants to 7–20(–40) cm; bulbs 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5(–2) cm.
Leaves

2(–3), basal, opposite, with sheathing blade, vernation flat and parallel, or convolute; nonsheathing blade erect to recurving at maturity, grayish green, linear-oblanceolate, glaucous; sheathing blade white, tubular, membranous, enclosing leaf bases and scape.

vernation flat and parallel, remaining so within basal sheath;

blade linear to ligulate, 5–15 × 0.3–0.7 cm.
Scape

erect in flower, prostrate in fruit, green, solid.

Inflorescences

pendulous, 1-flowered, spathaceous;

spathe bracteate, membranous;

bracts 2, connate, split on 1 side.

Flowers

nodding, fragrant;

perianath 2.5 cm or shorter;

tepals 6, distinct, unequal;

outer tepals spreading, white, narrowly obovate to almost orbicular, larger than inner;

inner tepals overlapping, appearing tubular, green-spotted at apex only or apex and base, straight to semiorbicular, apex notched;

stamens 6, inserted at bases of tepals, distinct;

anthers basifixed, longer than filaments, bases lobed, apices tapered, dehiscense introrse, via terminal slits;

ovary inferior, green, 3-locular, globose, septal nectaries present;

style, white, unbranched, filiform;

stigma indistinct to minutely capitate;

pedicel wiry, short, slender.

outer tepals white, oblong to broadly obovate, 1.5–2(–2.5) × 0.6–1.1 cm;

inner tepals white with green blotch at apex only, narrowly obovate or oblong, 7–12 × 4–6 mm;

anthers 3–5 mm;

ovary 5–6 × 3–4 mm;

style 6–8 mm;

pedicel 1.2–3(–4) cm.
Spathe

2–3.5 cm.
Fruits

capsular, green, globose, fleshy, dehiscence loculicidal.

Seeds

18–36, light brown, 3.5 mm, oblong to obtuse, elaiosomes fleshy.

x

= 12.

Galanthus

Galanthus nivalis
Phenology Flowering late winter–early spring.
Habitat Roadsides, open forests, abandoned gardens
Elevation 0–500 m (0–1600 ft)
Distribution
from USDA
Europe; sw Asia (Asia Minor, Iranian Caucasus, and Caspian Sea regions) [Introduced in North America; introduced and naturalized elsewhere]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
MA; MD; MI; NC; NJ; NY; OH; PA; UT; VA; NB; NF; ON; Europe (Spain to w Russia); expected elsewhere [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Species 14–17 (2 in the flora).

A number of Galanthus species, especially G. nivalis, are commonly cultivated for their late- winter and early–spring flowers, which emerge through the snow. Species of Galanthus are sometimes confused with Leucojum, snowflakes, a spring-flowering relative. The plants of Leucojum are usually taller, bear 2–3 flowers per stem, and their tepals are all equal.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Inner tepals blotched with green at base and apex or with green stripe from base to apex; leaves convolute within basal sheath.
G. elwesii
1. Inner tepals blotched with green at apex only; leaves flat and parallel within basal sheath.
G. nivalis
Source FNA vol. 26, p. 280. Authors: Gerald B. Straley†, Frederick H. Utech. FNA vol. 26, p. 280.
Parent taxa Liliaceae Liliaceae > Galanthus
Sibling taxa
G. elwesii
Subordinate taxa
G. elwesii, G. nivalis
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 288. (1753): Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 140. (1754) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 288. (1753)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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