Biology:Scilla verna

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Spring squill
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Genus: Scilla
Species:
S. verna
Binomial name
Scilla verna
Huds.
Synonyms

Tractema verna (Huds.) Speta

Scilla verna, commonly known as spring squill,[1][2] is a flowering plant native to Western Europe and Morocco.[3] It belongs to the squill genus Scilla. Its star-like blue flowers are produced in April and May.[2]

Description

Habitat

The plant occurs from Morocco north through Portugal, Spain, France, Great Britain (particularly the west coast) and Ireland (mainly along the east coast), reaching as far as the Faroe Islands and Norway.[3] It is found in short dry grassy areas, usually near the sea, though it is found at 415 metres above sea level on Foula.[2] It is one of the key components of the H7 plant community in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It was chosen as the county flower for County Down in Northern Ireland after a public vote organised by the charity Plantlife in 2002.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}

Ecology

Spores of Antherospora tractemae on flowers of Scilla verna

A smut fungus, Antherospora tractemae, infects the flowers. It is named after a synonym of the hostplant, Tractema verna. The phylogeny of the smut fungus supports the alternative taxonomy placing the hostplant in the genus Tractema.[4]

The leaves are infected by the rust fungi Uromyces scillinus and Uromyces scillarum.[5]

See also

References

  1. David Chapman (2008). Exploring the Cornish Coast. Penzance: Alison Hodge. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-906720-56-1. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Stroh, P. A.; Humphrey, T. A. (2023). "((Scilla verna Huds.))". https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.m3h. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "((Scilla verna Huds.))". http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:541086-1. 
  4. Piatek, M.; Lutz, M.; Smith, P. A.; Chater, A. O. (1 December 2011). "A new species of Antherospora supports the systematic placement of its host plant". IMA Fungus (International Mycological Association) 2 (2): 135–142. doi:10.5598/IMAFUNGUS.2011.02.02.04. ISSN 22106359. 
  5. "Scilla verna". https://bladmineerders.nl/host-plants/plantae/spermatopsida/angiosperma/monocots/asparagales/asparagaceae/scilloideae/hyacintheae/scilla/scilla-verna/. 
  • Stace, Clive A. (1997) New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press.
  • Tutin, T. G. et al. (1980) Flora Europaea, Volume 5. Cambridge University Press.

Wikidata ☰ Q3034404 entry nl:Scilla pratensis