| Scilla bifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| clade: | Angiosperms |
| clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Scilla |
| Species: | S. bifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Scilla bifolia L. |
|
Scilla bifolia (two-leaf squill or alpine squill) is a herbaceous perennial growing from an underground bulb, belonging to the genus Scilla of the Asparagaceae family.
The specific epithet bifolia, meaning "two leaves", refers to the number of leaves for each plant.
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Scilla bifolia is native to Europe and western Russia south through Turkey to Syria. The plant is found in shady places, woods of beech or deciduous trees, and mountain grasslands. It grows at an altitude of 100–2,000 m (330–6,600 ft) above sea level.
Scilla bifolia grows from a bulb 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) across. There are two or rarely three lance-shaped, curved, fleshy and shiny leaves. The bases of the leaves clasp up to about the half of the stem (amplexicaul).
The flowering stems are erect and unbranched, 10–20 cm (4–8 in) high. The raceme bears 6-10 flowers, each 1 cm (0.4 in) across.
The flowers of Scilla bifolia are upward-facing, unlike the nodding flowers of Scilla siberica (Siberian squill). They bloom from early to late spring. The six tepals are deep violet-blue, more rarely white, pink, or purple. The fruit is a capsule 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) across.
The cultivated variety 'Rosea' has pale pink or white flowers.
Synonyms of Scilla bifolia include:
Data related to Scilla bifolia at Wikispecies