Hyacinthoides hispanica (Mill.) Rothm.
Spanish bluebells (Hispanic hyacinthoides)
Asparagaceae
(Previously in Liliaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Gerry & Wendy Ansell     (Photo ID #70870)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Hyacinthoides hispanica
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Introduction

The Spanish bluebell is a bulbous perennial species native to the Iberian Peninsula that is introduced (gardens) and naturalized in British Columbia. It is similar in appearance to the English or common bluebell, but is much less strongly scented and larger flowered, with blue anthers (white in English bluebell).

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a scaly, egg-shaped, 2- to 3-cm long bulb; flowering stems erect, 20-50 cm tall, smooth.
Leaves:
Basal leaves several, strap-shaped, grass-like, 20-45 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, smooth, sheathing at the base, the margins entire; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an elongate, erect, terminal cluster of 10 to 16, stalked flowers, the stalks 0.5-3 cm long, ascending, subtended by a pair of bluish bracts; flowers blue to pink-purple, sometimes whitish, broadly bell-shaped, ascending to nodding, of 6 similar tepals fused at the base, the tepals narrowly egg-shaped, spreading or flaring, 1.5-2 cm long; stamens 6, attached at the middle of the perianth; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Capsules, 3-lobed; seeds few to several, egg-shaped, black.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Habitat and Range

Mesic to moist edges of forests, roadsides and waste places in the lowland zone; locally frequent garden escape on S Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the adjacent mainland, rare on the Queen Charlotte Islands; introduced from Europe.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Endymion hispanicus (Mill.) Chouard
Scilla hispanica