ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE
Selection of perennials
|Hyacinthaceae, formerly in Liliaceae
40 to 60 species, depending on classification, in the Mediterranean
region and in West Asia. In the FSU 15 species in the Caucasus.
However, this treatment accepted in Cherepanovís Checklist differs
greatly from those published in Floras for adjacent countries.
M. armeniacum Leichtl. ex Baker (M. colchicum
Grossh., M. szovitsianum Baker).
Caucasus, Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor. Grassy mountain slopes
up to 2,000 m.
Stout scapes 15-25 cm. Bulb 2-3 cm diam., light brown. Leaves
in rosette, 3-5, linear, 0.5-0.8 cm wide, 15-20 cm long, slightly
glaucous above. Flowers numerous, in short raceme. Flowers 0.5
cm long, dark or sometimes light blue with white teeth. V - early
spring to mid summer, in St Petersburg April to July. Fl - May.
Fr - June. P - by seed (self-sowing) and by offset bulblets. Does
well in sunny places and also in shady sites. Recommended for group
planting. Z 4 (3).
M. dolichanthum Woronow et Tron
Caucasus (West Trancaucasus). Alpine meadows, grassy slopes.
Scape 15-20 cm. Bulb ovate, dark brown, up to 3 cm diam. Leaves
broadly linear, sulcate, procumbent, 30-60 cm, overwintering. Basal
parts of leaves and stout scape reddish brown. Flowers 0.6-1.0 cm
long, perianth bright blue with white declined teeth; limb slightly
narrowed. V - early spring to mid summer. Fl - May. Fr - June.
P - by seed and by daughter bulbs. Z 5 (4). New.
M. neglectum Guss. (M. racemosum (L.) DC.).
The Caucasus, Central Asia, Central and southern Europe, northern
Africa and the Middle East. Foothills, forests, grassy mountain
Scape 10-30 cm. Bulb cordate, brown, 2 cm diam. Leaves 3-7,
narrow, lanceolate, 15-20 cm x 0.3-0.5 cm. Flowers 0.5 cm long,
perianth dark-violet with white declined tips. Terminal sterile
flowers azure. V - from early spring to mid summer. Autumn
generation of leaves (August-September) remains till July of next
year. Fl - May. Fr - June. P - by seed and the daughter bulbs
produced every year in large quantities.
Caucasian authors record other species many of which included by
Western treatment in M. armeniacum, e.g. M. alpanicum
Schchian, M. elegantulum Schchian, M.
grossheimii Schchian (M. neglectum), M.
pendulum Trautv., M. polyanthum Boiss.,
M. sosnowskyi Schchian.