Hyacinthoides hispanica 西班牙藍鈴花

Common name: Spanish Bluebell
Scientific name: Hyacinthoides hispanica 西班牙藍鈴花
Genus: Hyacinthoides 藍鈴花屬
Family: Asparagaceae 天門冬科*, asparagus family

Remarks: Hyacinthoides hispanica is native to western Spain and Portugal. Since it is difficult to distinguish between Hyacinthoides hispanica and the hybrid Hyacinthoides x massartiana (Hyacinthoides hispanica x non-scripta.) The photo below maybe the hybrid. Further investigation is needed to confirm the identity. *Asparagaceae is previously belonged to the Liliaceae 百合科, the lily family.

Origin: Neophyte (established after 1500 AD).

Date:  26th April

Found in a path, just outside a building. Maybe a garden escape.

Leaves 35 mm wide. (vs leaves 7-15 (-20) mm wide in Hyacinthoides non-scripta 藍鈴花, bluebell)

 Inflorescence erect. (vs inflorescence dropping at the top in Hyacinthoides non-scripta 藍鈴花, bluebell) 

Flowers all round the flower stalk. (vs flowers are one-sided in Hyacinthoides non-scripta 藍鈴花, bluebell)

Flower buds, enlarged below.

Flower bud and the bracts. (note the pair of bracts is different from that in Hyacinthoides non-scripta 藍鈴花, bluebell)

Flower, enlarged below.

Stamens blue. (vs stamens cream or yellow in Hyacinthoides non-scripta 藍鈴花, bluebell)

Hyacinthoides non-scripta 藍鈴花

Common name: Bluebell
Scientific name: Hyacinthoides non-scripta 藍鈴花
Genus: Hyacinthoides 藍鈴花屬
Family: Asparagaceae 天門冬科*, asparagus family

Remarks*: It is previously belonged to the Liliaceae 百合科, the lily family.

Origin: native

Date:  13th, 25th April (& 19th May)

A perennial, can reach up to 50 cm. Leaves all basal.

Leaves 7-15 (-20) mm wide. (vs leaves 35 mm wide in Hyacinthoides hispanica 西班牙藍鈴花, Spanish bluebell)

Inflorescence dropping at the top, flowers are one-sided. (vs inflorescence erect, flowers all round the flower stalk in Hyacinthoides hispanica 西班牙藍鈴花, Spanish bluebell)

Flowers tubular. (vs flowers conical or bell-shaped in the latter.)

Flower buds and the pair of bracts at the base of each flower.

The tip of the petals revolute (curled right back). (vs the petals are spread out in Hyacinthoides hispanica 西班牙藍鈴花, Spanish bluebell)

5 stamens and 1 style.

Anthers are cream or yellow. (vs anthers are blue in Hyacinthoides hispanica 西班牙藍鈴花, Spanish bluebell)

Few plants have the petals pink in color.

Tip of the petals revolute.

Photo enlarged below.

Anthers are cream.

002 (19th May)

004 (19th May)