Leucojum aestivum L.   Liliaceae (Lily Family)   Cent. and S. Europe   Snowflake

                                     February Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Small, hardy, bulbous plants grown in the open for spring; lvs. 12-18 in. long and .5 in. broad, narrowed above but short-obtuse at apex; scape about 12 in., bearing 2-8 fls. on long drooping pedicels; segms. .75 in. or less long, .25-.33 in. broad, making a rather light fl., white tipped green; stamens inserted on inferior ovary, filaments short, anthers erect and basifixed; ovules many, one above the other; stigma small and capitate; caps 3-valved loculicidally; seeds nearly globose

Habitat:  Nine or 10 species of small hardy bulbs.  Very early spring.  Central Europe.

Name:  Leuco-jum: old Greek name, etymologically white violet.  (Bailey 250).  Aestivus: summer.  (Bailey 10).

General:  Rare in the study area, having been found only once and this on the Irvine Blvd. road bank in the 23rd St. area. The bulbs may have been dumped with a load of trash at some time in the past?  (my comments).       The Jepson Manual has included the family Amaryllidaceae within Liliaceae.  This plant has previously been in family Amaryllidaceae. (my comments).

Text Ref:  Bailey 250.

Photo Ref:  Feb 88 # 18A,19A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found: February 1988.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 352

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit 8/6/05.

                                            February Photo