MUSCARI SPREITZENHOFERI

Family and Genus:- See- HYACINTHACEAE/Subgen. LEOPOLDIA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Leopoldia spreitzenhoferi, Muscari amoenocomum,

Muscari creticum

Meaning:- Muscari (L) Musk-like (from the Turkish, moscos, fragrance).

Spreitzenhoferi. Meaning unknown, but possibly for someone named

Spreitzenhofer.

General description:- Bulbous perennial plant.

Bulb:-

1) Tunics pinkish or brown.

Scape:-

1) 5-15 cm, usually shorter than the leaves.

Leaves:-

1) 3-5, 6-20 mm long, glaucous, linear, canaliculate, the outermost conspicuously

wider.

Flower:-

1) Raceme, dense, conical, becoming lax, cylindrical.

2) Pedicels of the fertile flowers, 4-7 mm, usually ascending at least in fruit.

3) Fertile flowers, 4-7 mm, tubular-urceolate, sometimes slightly constricted in

middle; shoulders rounded, deep brown; proximal part of tube greenish-brown;

teeth deep yellow, patent or recurved.

4) Sterile flowers, scarcely developed, forming a minute tuft of threads, rarely few

and small.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 6-8 x 6-8 mm, globose, sometimes emarginate or acuminate.

Key features:-

1) Inflorescence, conical, with ascending pedicels.

2) Fertile flowers, dark greenish-brown.

3) Sterile flowers, few or absent.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- In a variety of sandy and rocky habitats, dry open shrubby vegetation and

mountain dolines, generally over limestone. 0-2200 m.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Widespread and common.

Flowering time:- Mar to early July, depending on altitude.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton