Alpine squill (Scilla bifolia)
Description
Scilla bifolia (alpine squill or two-leaf squill) is a herbaceous perennial growing from an underground bulb, belonging to the genus Scilla of the Asparagaceae family.The specific epithet bifolia means "twin leaved".Scilla bifolia grows from a bulb 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) across.There are two or rarely three lance-shaped, curved, fleshy and shiny leaves The bases of the leaves clasp up to about the half of the stem (amplexicaul).The flowering stems are erect and unbranched, 10–20 cm (4–8 in) high. The raceme bears 6-10 flowers, each 1 cm (0.4 in) across.The flowers of Scilla bifolia are upward-facing, unlike the nodding flowers of Scilla siberica (Siberian squill). They bloom from early to late spring. The six tepals are deep violet-blue, more rarely white, pink, or purple.The fruit is a capsule 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) across.S. bifolia has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Asparagaceae
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Genus: Scilla
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