Siberian squill |
Habit, inflorescence and fruit of the des Siberian squill
| Scilla siberica Haw.: | |
| Blooming period: | March–April |
| Height: | 10–14 cm |
| Flowers: | bisexual, actinomorphic, blue with a darker a median strip, conspicuous, Ø up to 25 mm, stamens: 6, styles: 1 |
| Tepals: | 6, blue |
| Leaves: | 2–4, basal, parallel-veined |
Plant perennial, herbaceous with an up to 2–3 cm thick bulb, surrounded by a red-brown tunic.
Stems upright, incl. flower scape up to 14 cm high.
Leaves 2–4, basal, about 16 mm wide and about 7 cm long.
The stem bears a single stalked flower or a terminal flower scape which 2–5 flowers. Stem is usually longer than the leaves. Pedicels 2–4 mm long, at the base with an up to 2 mm long bract.
The up to 25 mm wide, nodding flowers are funnel-shaped to bell-shaped. The center of the flower without a white "eye".
The 6 identically looking tepals are blue with a darker a median strip not fused at the base.
At the base of the tepals arise 6 stamens with blue anthers without broadened filaments.
After insect pollination (bees, bumblebees, wasps) or self-pollination are formed by the superior, green ovary 3-piece, many-seeded, rounded, up to 6 mm thick capsule fruits.
The seeds have a nutrient-rich appendage (elaiosome) and are spread by ants. Propagation also by formation of daughter bulbs. Plants poisonous, especially the bulb!
| Floral formula: |
| * [P3+3 A3+3] G(3) superior |
Occurrence:
Roadsides,
parks, public gardens, cemeteries, often near human settlements.
Prefers slightly moist, well drained, sandy soils and sunny positions
to partial shade.
Distribution:
Originally
in Turkey, the
Caucasus and the southern European part of Russia. In Europe and North
America introduced, garden escape.