Galanthus nivalis L.

Snowdrop

© SRTurner

Family - Liliaceae

Habit - Perennial forb from a bulb.

	Bulbs.
© SRTurner

Stems - Ascending, to 25 cm, herbaceous, glabrous.

Leaves - Basal, linear, flat, usually shorter than aerial stems, glabrous, dark green.

	Leaves and basal sheaths.
© SRTurner

	Leaves.
© SRTurner

Flower - Flowers pendent. Outer 3 tepals white, elliptic or obovate, descending. Inner 3 tepals shorter, pendent, white with distal green spot.

	Flower.
© SRTurner

	Flower.
© SRTurner

	Sectioned flower showing ovary, stamens, and style.
© SRTurner

	Fruits.
© SRTurner

	Sectioned fruit. Seeds are probably not viable.
© SRTurner

Flowering - February - March.

Habitat - Mesic, partially shaded areas.

Origin - Native to Europe.

Lookalikes - Distantly, Leucojum aestivum.

Other info. - This little species one of the first to bloom in early spring. It is always associated with past cultivation events, e.g. at old homesites and cemeteries, and can persist for many decades. An extant population in St. Charles county was originally planted at some time prior to 1940. The plants wander only slightly from their cultivated location and do not pose an invasion threat.

Photographs taken at Shaw Nature Reserve, Franklin County, MO, 2-26-2012, 3-17-2015, and 2-22-2020, and at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, St. Charles, MO, 2-28-2012 (SRTurner).