Scilla cretica is a species of flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family.[2] It is referred to by the common name Cretan glory-of-the-snow, and is a bulbous perennial native to Crete, flowering in early spring. It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, and may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa.[3] It has not always been recognized as distinct from Scilla nana.
| Scilla cretica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Scilla |
| Section: | Scilla sect. Chionodoxa |
| Species: | S. cretica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Scilla cretica | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description edit
Like all members of the former genus Chionodoxa, the bases of the stamens are flattened and closely clustered in the middle of the flower. In other species of Scilla, the stamens are not flattened or clustered together.[4]
Taxonomy edit
The number of related species recognized as occurring in Crete has varied. In 1987, Sfikas' Wild flowers of Crete recognized two (then placed in Chionodoxa), C. cretica and C. nana.[5] In 1993, the Natural History Museum's checklist of the Cretan Flora recognized only Scilla nana.[6] As of March 2020[update], the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepted both S. cretica and S. nana.[1][7] Sfikas regards S. cretica as being larger, with bluer flowers, occurring below 1700 m and S. nana as smaller, with whitish flowers, occurring above 1700 m.[5]
Distribution and habitat edit
Scilla cretica is native to Crete where it is found at elevations of 1300–1700 m.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Scilla cretica", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-03-17
- ^ "Scilla cretica (Boiss. & Heldr.) Speta". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ Yildirim et al. (2017)
- ^ Mathew (1987), p. 25
- ^ a b Sfikas (1987), p. 268
- ^ Turland et al. (1993), p. 185
- ^ "Scilla nana", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-03-17
Bibliography edit
- Mathew, Brian (1987), The Smaller Bulbs, London: B T Batsford, ISBN 978-0-7134-4922-8
- Mathew, Brian (2005), "Hardy Hyacinthaceae, Part 2: Scilla, Chionodoxa, xChionoscilla", The Plantsman, New Series, 4 (2): 110–21
- Sfikas, George (1987), Wild Flowers of Crete, Athens: Efstathiadis, ISBN 978-960-226-052-4
- Turland, N.J.; Chilton, L.; Press, J.R & Natural History Museum (London) (1993), Flora of the Cretan Area: annotated checklist and atlas, London: HMSO, ISBN 978-0-11-310043-9
- Yildirim, H.; Yetisen, K.; Özdemir, A. & Özdemir, C. (2017), "An Anatomical Study of Scilla (Scilloideae) Section Chionodoxa and Scilla bifolia in Turkey" (PDF), Planta Daninha, 35: e017162495, doi:10.1590/s0100-83582017350100004, retrieved 2020-03-16