''Muscari armeniacum'' is a species of flowering plant in the squill

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Scilloideae of the asparagus family Asparagaceae (formerly the lilies, Liliaceae). It is a

bulb In botany, a bulb is structurally a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf basesBell, A.D. 1997. ''Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. that function as food storage organs duri ...

ous perennial with basal, simple

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

and short flowering stems. It is one of a number of species and genera known as grape hyacinth, in this case Armenian grape hyacinth or garden grape-hyacinth. The flowers are purple, blue (with a white fringe), white (cv. ‘Album’) or pale pink (cv. ‘Pink Sunrise’) and the plants are usually tall. ''M. armeniacum'' blooms in mid-Spring (April or May in the

Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's Nort ...

) for 3–4 weeks. Some selections are fragrant. Established bulbs leaf in the autumn. ''M. armeniacum'' is widespread in the woods and meadows of the Eastern Mediterranean, from Greece and Turkey to the Caucasus, including Armenia which gives it its name. Grape Hyacinth - Muscari armeniacum - Traubenhyazinthe - 01

Grape Hyacinth - Muscari armeniacum - Traubenhyazinthe - 01

Cultivation

''Muscari armeniacum'' is one of the most commonly cultivated species of ''Muscari'', is robust and naturalises easily., pp. 126 It appeared in European gardens in 1871. The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

: *''M. armeniacum'' *''M. armeniacum'' ‘Christmas Pearl’ *''M. armeniacum'' ‘Jenny Robinson’ *''M. armeniacum'' ‘Saffier’ Cultivars listed by Mathew include 'Blue Spike' and 'Cantab'. Others include 'Argaei Album' and 'Album' (white), 'Côte d'Azur', 'Dark Eyes, 'Early Giant', 'Fantasy Creation', 'Peppermint', 'Saffier', 'Valerie Finnis' (pale blue), and 'Pink Sunrise' (pale pink). The commonly available form is often referred to as ''M. armeniacum'' 'Blue'. 'Blue Spike' is a double flowered variety, with double florets on the flower stalk. 'Cantab' is pale blue. 'Fantasy Creation' is a sport (a naturally occurring genetic mutation) of 'Blue Spike'. 'Atlantic' is light blue, introduced by

Jan van Bentem Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Numb ...

in 2002, by hybridisation in 1990 from ''M. armeniacum'' and an unknown parent.

Gallery

File:Muscari armeniacum.jpg, ''Muscari armeniacum'' growing in the wild in Oshakan, Armenia File:Muscari armeniacum, Jardín Botánico de Múnich, Alemania, 2013-05-04, DD 01.jpg, Bell-shaped flowers of a ''Muscari armeniacum'' surrounded by leaves of ''Hosta 'Undulata',

Munich Botanical Garden The Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg (21.20 hectares) is a botanical garden and arboretum located at Menzinger Str. 65, Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is open daily, except on 24 and 31 December; an admission fee is charged. Histor ...

, Germany File:Muscari armeniacum 'Peppermint' fruits.jpg, Immature capsules of ''Muscari armeniacum'' 'Peppermint', Gothenburg Botanical Garden,

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

References

Sources

*''Taylor's guide to Bulbs''. Houghton Miflin Boston 1986. p. 350.

External links

North Carolina State University: Muscari armeniacum
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q159562 armeniacum Flora of Armenia Flora of Azerbaijan Flora of Turkey