PROSPERO AUTUMNALE

Family and Genus:- See- HYACINTHACEAE

Common Names:- Autumn squill

Homotypic Synonyms:- Anthericum autumnale, Genlisa autumnalis,

Hyacinthus autumnalis, Ornithogalum autumnale, Scilla autumnalis,

Stellaris autumnalis, Urginea autumnalis.

Meaning:- Prospero (Gr) Provide a good omen, give hope. or (L) Pass, penetrate.

Refering to the fact that the genus is close to the genus Scilla.

Autumnale (L) Of the autumn.

General description:- Low to short perennial.

Bulb:- 15-30 mm diam, ovoid.

Stems:-

1) 5-20 cm, scabrid, towards the base, up to twice as long as the mature leaves.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, simple, 5-10 absent or very short at anthesis, 4-15 cm x 1-2 mm, usually

erect (occasionally up to 4 mm wide and more or less procumbent), narrowly

linear and canaliculate or almost subfiliform, glabrous.

Flowers:-

1) Mauve, lilac, blue or pinkish purple, initially campanulate then stellate, from 5-

10mm diam. joined together in 6-20 in racemes from 15-50mm long.

2) Pedicels, erect, 1-2 times longer than the flower, without bracts at their base.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, small, rounded, with 3 compartments each one containing 2 black

seeds.

2) Seeds, 2 x 1 mm, ellipsoid, black, somewhat finely rugulose.

Key features:-

1) Bracts, absent or not more than 2(-3) mm, ovate to triangular.

2) Flowers, appearing in late summer or autumn, before the leaves.

3) Leaves, linear, canaliculate or ± filiform, 1-2(-4) mm wide, glabrous, gradually

narrowed to the apex.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky hillsides with scrubland vegetation and open dry shrubby

vegetation, open woodland, olive groves, dolines, mainly over limestone. 0-1200(-

1800) m.

Distribution:- Widespread in the Mediterranean region and SW Asia. Widespread

and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mainly Aug-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton