Scilla bifolia

Scilla bifolia, the alpine squill or two-leaf squill, is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from an underground bulb, belonging to the genus Scilla of the family Asparagaceae.

The Latin specific epithet bifolia means "twin leaved".

Description
Scilla bifolia grows from a bulb 1 - 2 cm across. There are two or rarely three lance-shaped, curved, fleshy and shiny leaves and the bases of the leaves clasp up to about the half of the stem (amplexicaul).

The flowering stems are erect and unbranched, 10 - 20 cm high. The raceme bears 6-10 flowers, each 1 cm across.

The flowers of Scilla bifolia are upward-facing, unlike the nodding flowers of Scilla siberica (Siberian squill). They bloom from early to late spring. The six tepals are deep violet-blue, more rarely white, pink, or purple. The fruit is a capsule 6 - 8 mm across.

S. bifolia has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.



Subspecies

 * Scilla bifolia subsp. bifolia
 * Scilla bifolia subsp. buekkensis (Speta) Soó
 * Scilla bifolia subsp. rara Trávníček
 * Scilla bifolia subsp. spetana (Kereszty) Trávníček

The cultivated variety 'Rosea' has pale pink or white flowers.
 * Cultivars

Synonyms
Synonyms of Scilla bifolia include:

Distribution
Scilla bifolia is native to Europe and western Russia south through Turkey to Syria. The plant is found in shady places, woods of beech or deciduous trees, and mountain grasslands. It grows at an altitude of 100 - 2000 m above sea level.