Galanthus

Lore & Background

Snowdrops have been known since the earliest times under various names, but were formally named *Galanthus* in 1753. The genus comprises about twenty species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the Amaryllis family. Each plant produces two linear leaves and a single, small, white, drooping, bell-shaped flower. The flower has six petal-like tepals arranged in two whorls; the three inner tepals are smaller than the outer three and bear green markings. Most species bloom in winter, before the vernal equinox, though some flower in early spring or late autumn. The leaves emerge from the bulb enclosed in a membranous sheath, and their arrangement in the bud—known as vernation—varies among species, though this characteristic has proven unreliable for classification. The flowering stalk is erect and leafless, topped by a pair of bract-like spathes from which a solitary, nodding white flower hangs on a slender stalk. The six stamens are very short, with anthers that open by terminal pores. The inferior ovary ripens into a fleshy, three-celled capsule containing light brown to white seeds, each with a small appendage attractive to ants, which disperse the seeds. The genus is native to Europe and the Middle East, from the Pyrenees east to the Caucasus and Iran, and south to Sicily, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria. *Galanthus nivalis* is the best-known and most widespread species, native to a large area of Europe and widely naturalised elsewhere, including North America.

Reader's Guide

Linnaeus separated this genus from *Leucojum*, under which it had previously been known. The number of recognized species has increased over time, and various attempts were made to divide them into subgroups based on leaf emergence patterns (vernation), but molecular phylogenetics has shown this characteristic to be unreliable. Seven molecularly defined clades are now recognized, corresponding to biogeographical distribution. New species continue to be discovered. Most species grow best in woodland, in acid or alkaline soil, though some are grassland or mountain species. Snowdrops are bulbous perennials with two linear leaves and a single, nodding, bell-shaped white flower. The flower has six petal-like tepals in two whorls; the three inner tepals are smaller and bear green markings, which may be at the base, apex, or both, and sometimes appear as a bridge-shaped mark over a small notch. The six stamens are very short, with anthers opening by terminal pores. The fruit is a fleshy, three-celled capsule containing seeds with a fleshy appendage (elaiosome) that attracts ants, which disperse the seeds. The chromosome number is 2n=24. Most species flower in winter before the vernal equinox, though some bloom in early spring or late autumn. The genus is native to Europe and the Middle East, from the Pyrenees to the Caucasus and Iran, and south to Sicily and Syria. *Galanthus nivalis* is the most widespread and best-known species, native to a large area of Europe and widely naturalized elsewhere, including the British Isles, where it was likely introduced around the early sixteenth century.

Did You Know?

• The name Galanthus comes from Ancient Greek γάλα (gála, 'milk') and ἄνθος (ánthos, 'flower').
• The inner tepals of Galanthus flowers have green markings that may be at the base, the apex, or both.
• Seeds of Galanthus have a small appendage (elaiosome) containing substances attractive to ants, which distribute the seeds.