Chionodoxa luciliae
Diagn. Pl. Orient. 1(5): 61. 1844.
Plants 10–20 cm; bulbs ovoid, 1.5–2 cm. Leaves 2–4, often recurved, broadly linear, 7–20 × 1–2 cm. Scapes usually solitary. Inflorescences 1–2-flowered. Flowers: perianth deep blue with white central zone, tube 2.5–4 mm; tepals 12–15(–20) mm; filaments white; pedicel erect, equaling or shorter than perianth. Capsules ± globose, 4–6 mm. Seeds with white appendages. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering early to mid spring.
Habitat: Lawns, open mesic areas
Elevation: [1600–2000 m in Turkey]
Distribution
Mass., Mich., Utah, Europe (w Turkey).
Discussion
Chinodoxa luciliae, a spring-blooming, garden species, has been reported established on lawns in Houghton and Borrago counties, Michigan (E. G. Voss 1972–1985, vol. 1). Because C. forbesii Baker, distinguished by its taller scapes (to 30 cm), with more numerous (4–10), slightly larger, and slightly pendent flowers, is more widely cultivated, often as “C. luciliae,” both it and C. luciliae are expected to be naturalized elsewhere.
Selected References
None.