Spanish bluebell
| Spanish bluebell | ||||||||||||||
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| Hyacinthoides hispanica (Mill.) Rothm. |
The Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica, formerly Endymion hispanicus or Scilla hispanica), is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial native to the Iberian Peninsula. It is one of only two members of the genus Hyacinthoides, (excluding the hybrid Hyacinthoides x massartiana), the other one being the English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). In the United Kingdom, it is an introduced species which grows invasively in the wild.
It is distinguished from the English bluebell by its paler, larger blue flowers, more erect flower stem (raceme), broader leaves, blue anthers (where the English Bluebell has creamy-white ones) and little or no scent compared to the strong fragrent scent of the English species.
The two species hybridise freely and the resulting hybrid Hyacinthoides x massartiana and the Spanish bluebell both produce highly fertile seed and can invade areas of the native English bluebell. This has caused the English bluebell to be viewed as a threatened species.
The Spanish bluebell is also cultivated as a garden plant and several named garden varieties exist in shades of white and pink and blue.
Categories: Asparagales | Flowers