My favourite wild flowering species has to be the common British Bluebell, there is nothing more pleasing than seeing a woodland floor being carpeted blue by these endangered wild flower species.

Our native Bluebell is now under threat from people digging up the bulbs illegally from woodland and planting them in their gardens, and also the introduction into our gardens of the spanish variety of Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) which can cause cross hybrid pollination.

As i have mentioned above, it is illegal to dug up any wild Bluebell bulbs from woodland or meadows due to them being a protected endangered species, and seeds of the common British Bluebell can be bought from licenced providers.

There are three species of Bluebell in the UK (two species and a hybrid) and can be identified by the images below:

Native Bluebell (as image above)

Bluebells are perennial herbs growing from a bulb.

The basal leaves are few in number (3-6) per bulb. The leaves may be between 20-45cm long and 7-25mm wide and are erect at first but become floppy and spread across the ground later in the season. Leaves are usually linear to linear-lanceolate in outline and usually have an acute tip. The leaves are smooth, shiny and slightly succulent.

The flower spike is usually 20-50cm high, with the flowers arranged in a raceme that droops or nods distinctly to one side. Each raceme usually has between 4 and 16 flowers that are mainly attached to the main stem on one side.

Each flower has two linear-lanceolate bracts, one usually longer than the other, at the base of the flower stalk. The flower stalk is normally 3-10mm long. The flowers hang down to one side of the main stem. The flowers are usually deep violet-blue but paler blue forms (rarely white and very rarely pink) do occur. Each flower is made up of six petals that are fused together at the base to form a narrow straight-sided bell. Flowers are normally 10-28mm in diameter and each petal is usually 14-20mm long.  The petals are usually rolled back.

The six unequal stamens  are attached to the petal bases. The anthers are pale cream. Flowers are usually strong and sweetly scented, particularly on warm days.

Bluebells are often frequent in ancient woodlands,  hedgerows, under bracken and sea cliffs. They are especially frequent in western and upland areas. Although found across the British Isles Bluebells are rare or absent in some areas including parts of East Anglia, western Ireland, northern Scotland, the Orkneys, Shetlands and the Western Isles. Bluebell also occurs as an escape from cultivation, particularly near towns and cities.

Spanish Bluebell

Spanish bluebells are perennial herbs growing from a bulb.

The basal leaves are few in number (4-8) per bulb. Leaves may be between 20-50cm long and 10-35mm wide and are erect at first by become floppy and spread across the ground later in the season. The leaf shape is usually linear or oblong in outline and usually have a blunt tip. The leaves are smooth, shiny and slightly succulent.

The flower spike is usually 20-50cm high, with the flowers arranged in a raceme that is stiff and upright. Each raceme usually has between 4 and 20 flowers that are usually attached to the main stem on all sides.

The flowers usually point outwards. Each flower has two linear-lanceolate bracts, one usually longer than the other, at the base of the flower stalk. The flower stalk is normally 10-20mm long. The flowers are usually pale to mid-blue (sometimes white or pink). Each flower is made up of six petals that are fused together at the base to form a wide-open bell. Flowers are normally 15-25mm in diameter and each petal is usually 15-22mm long.  The petals are widely spreading and are usually not rolled back.

The six equal stamens are attached to the petals. The anthers are usually pale to mid-blue. Flowers are usually unscented, even on warm days.

Hybrid Bluebell

The hybrid bluebell shares characteristics with both the Spanish and native bluebell, which can make it difficult to identify.

Hybrid bluebells are perennial herbs growing from a bulb .

The basal leaves  are few in number (3-8) per bulb. Leaves may be between 20-50cm long and 10-30mm wide and are erect at first by become floppy and spread across the ground later in the season. The leaf shape is usually linear to linear-lanceolate in outline and usually have an acute tip. The leaves are smooth, shiny and slightly succulent.

The flower spike is usually 20-50cm high, with the flowers arranged in a raceme that droops or nods slightly to one side. Each raceme usually has between 4 and 15 flowers that are usually attached to the main stem on all sides.

The flowers hang down or point outwards, sometimes towards one side of the main stem. Each flower has two linear-lanceolate bracts, one usually longer than the other, at the base of the flower stalk. The flower stalk is normally 8-20mm long. The flowers are usually dark to pale blue (sometimes white or pink). Each flower is made up of six petals that are fused together at the base to form an open bell. Flowers are normally 10-20mm in diameter and each petal is usually 12-17mm long.  The petals are spreading (erecto-patent) and are usually slightly rolled back. The six more or less equal stamens are attached to the petal bases. The anthers are usually pale blue. Flowers are usually weakly scented, particularly on warm days. The hybrid is apparently fully fertile and produces abundant seed.

The six more or less equal stamens are attached to the petal bases. The anthers are usually pale blue. Flowers are usually weakly scented, particularly on warm days. The hybrid is apparently fully fertile and produces abundant seed.

Bluebell seed providers

Bluebellseeds.com

Farnell Farm

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 7th, 2007 at 9:29 am and is filed under Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.