BELLEVALIA TRIFOLIATA

Family and Genus:- See- HYACINTHACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Bellevalia trifoliata var. typica, Hyacinthus trifoliatus.

Meaning:- Bellevalia (L) For P. R. De Belleval (1558-1632) early systematist.

Trifoliata (L) Having three leaflets.

General description:- Perennial bulbous plant.

Scape:-

1) 25-40(-60) cm height.

Leaves:-

1) 2-4(-6), erect, about as long as the scape, lanceolate, often finely ciliate.

Flowers:-

1) Racemes, cylindrical, 10-to 40-flowered, pedicels, 4-8 mm.

2) Perianth, 8-16 mm, campanulate, violet at anthesis, later brownish.

3) Perianth lobes, 1/3-1/2 as long as the tube, ovate to oblong, obtuse, greenish.

4) Fruiting raceme, cylindrical; pedicels patent or slightly deflexed.

Key features:-

1) Racemes, cylindrical.

2) Perianth, 9-16 mm, campanulate.

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Habitat:- Seasonally damp spots in olive groves and fallow fields, occasionally

semi-natural habitats in open woodland. 0-800 m.

Distribution:- S. Turkey, Cyprus and the E. Mediterranean. Very rare on Crete,

Currently know from only one area in the west. Again found by Fotis Samaritakis in

17/12/2019, Previously unrecorded since 1993.

Flowering time:- Mar to early May.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis