Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Common bluebell or English bluebell
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
clade:	Angiosperms
clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Scilloideae
Genus:	Hyacinthoides
Species:	H. non-scripta
Binomial name
Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex Rothm.
Synonyms
Endymion non-scriptum Scilla non-scripta Agraphis nutans

Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. (The English bluebell should not be confused with the Scottish bluebell or harebell, Campanula rotundifolia.)

Taxonomy

Hyacinthoides means "like a hyacinth"; Endymion is another character from Greek myth; Scilla was the original Greek name for sea squill, Drimia maritima.^[1]

The non-scripta or non-scriptum part of the botanical names means "unlettered" or "unmarked" and was intended to distinguish this plant from the classical hyacinth of Greek mythology. This mythical flower (which may have been a wild species of Hyacinthus, Iris or other flower) sprang up from the blood of the dying prince Hyacinthus. His lover, the god Apollo, shed tears that marked the new flower's petals with the letters "AIAI" ("alas") as a sign of his grief.^[2]

Other common names for common bluebell include auld man's bell, bluebell, calverkeys, culverkeys, English bluebell, jacinth, ring-o'-bells, wilde hyacint, and wood bells.^[3]

Description

The common bluebell flowers in April and May. The flowers are lavender-blue, pendulous, tubular with the petals recurved only at the end, and borne on one side of the flowering stem only. The flower stem is 10–30 cm long and bends over at the top. The anthers are yellowish-white or cream and are attached more than halfway up on the inside the tube. The flowers are pleasantly and usually strongly scented and its leaves are basal and linear.

Distribution and habitat

A bluebell wood near Ringshall, Berkhamsted

Hyacinthoides non-scripta is endemic to Belgium, Great Britain, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, and also occurs as a naturalized species in Germany, Italy, and Romania.^[4] In spring, bluebells cover the forest floor of many northeastern European woods; these are known as "bluebell woods". Bluebells are often used as an indicator species to identify ancient woodland, particularly in the East of England and Lincolnshire.^[5] It is estimated that 70% of all common bluebells are found in Great Britain.

Bluebells are a species of deciduous woodland over much of their range, flowering and leafing early before the canopy closes in late spring. They may also be found growing under bracken or Japanese knotweed, perennial plants which also form stands with a dense summer canopy.^[6] Bluebells are also frequently found in hedgerows, and in the west of their range they can be found growing as an open field species, as on Skomer Island.^[7]

Protection

In the United Kingdom the common bluebell is a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Landowners are prohibited from removing common bluebells on their land for sale and it is a criminal offence to remove the bulbs of wild common bluebells. This legislation was strengthened in 1998 under Schedule 8 of the Act making any trade in wild common bluebell bulbs or seeds an offence.

Ecology

Bluebell flowers are pollinated by insects, including bees. The black seeds may have a long period of viability and can germinate after several years if suitable conditions recur. The seedlings can flower in two years from seed; as a result, bluebells can spread rapidly in suitable conditions.

Bluebells in Cheshire

Subdivisions

Varieties

There are varieties with colors other than lavender-blue. The white-flowered variety is called Hyacinthoides non-scripta 'Alba'.

Hybridisation

In Britain there is extensive hybridisation with the introduced Hyacinthoides hispanica producing fertile seeds. This has produced hybrid swarms around sites of introductions and, since the hybrids are able to thrive in a wider range of environmental conditions, the hybrids are frequently out-competing the native English bluebells. Hybrids show a great range of characteristics and any one of the following features indicates some hybridisation:

• stems upright and not nodding
• flowers borne on more than one side of the flowering stem
• flower more open and bell-shaped, without a long and more-or-less parallel-sided tube
• anthers blue or cyan, not white or cream, at least when young
• leaves broader
• scent less strong and less sweet

Uses

Bluebells synthesise a wide range of chemicals with potential medicinal properties. They contain at least 15 biologically active compounds that may provide them with protection against insects and animals. Certain extracts - water-soluble alkaloids - are similar to compounds tested for use in combating HIV and cancer.^[8][9]

See also

• Bluebell wood
• Ancient woodland

References

1. ^ Coombes, Allen J, The Collingridge Dictionary of Plant Names, Collingridge, 1985, ISBN 0-600-35770-8
2. ^ Mabey, Richard, Flora Britannica, Sinclair-Stevenson, London, 1996, pp412–416. ISBN 1-85619-377-2
3. ^ Plants For A Future Database
4. ^ Flora Europaea on Bluebell
5. ^ Woodland Trust
6. ^ http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/sheffield/biodiversity/species/facts/bluebell.html
7. ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/946122
8. ^ [1]
9. ^ Michael Kent, Advanced Biology, Oxford University Press, 2000, p. 334 ISBN 9780199141951

External links

• Which Bluebell Is It? "Bluebells for Britain" bluebell identifier questionnaire.
• British Wild Flowers: Hyacinthoides non-scripta