02/27/2022
SNOW DROPS: (Galanthus nivalis). I noticed the other day that the colony of Snow Drops near my home have already emerged and have flowers. These are the first flowers in Western PA to bloom with the possible exception of skunk cabbage.
The perennial Snow Drop is not a native wildflower. They originated in Europe and were brought to American by English settlers in the early 17th century. It is even possible that the Romans brought them to Britain. The genus name of the plant translates as "Milk Flower." Once in America, many of these plants escaped gardens and now grow in moist woodland environments in northern United States and in a few locations in the West.
Although many alien species are harmful, the Snow Drops are a welcome addition to early spring woodlands as long as they are not crowding out native species. If you have a woodland area that does not have native spring ephemerals you might consider buying some of these plants. They will slowly spread into a large colony.
In England they are also known by the common names: "February Fairmaids", " Dingle-Dangle", "Candlemas Bells", or "Mary's Tapers". Snow Drops belong to the Family Amaryllidaceae in the order Lillales.
Snow Drops grow from a bulb very early in the spring. They are obviously immune to cold temperatures. The plants produce 2-3 linear leaves and a slender flower stalk and can be up to 6 inches high. The nodding flower consists of six tepals (also referred to as segments). (Tepals are petals and sepals that resemble each other.) The outer three are larger and more convex than the inner ones. The inner flower segments are usually marked on their outer surface with a green or greenish-yellow V- or U-shaped mark (sometimes described as "bridge-shaped") over the small sinus (notch) at the tip of each tepal. The inner surface has a faint green mark covering all or most of it. The fertile flower parts are usually hidden unless the flower can be viewed from below.
Snowdrops often form in clumps and where established can spread. Since they bloom before most ground plants, their background is either snow or leaf litter. After blooming the flowers wilt and the leaves soon die back. Ants distribute the seeds, attracted by a nutritious elaisome attached to the seed coat. These serve as an early food source as ants emerge in the spring.
In their native habitat in Europe they are considered endangered and international trade in the bulbs is limited. There are no such restrictions in North America. Snowdrops contain an active substance called galantamine (or galanthamine) that is said to be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, though it is not a cure. This has not been scientifically verified.
I took this photograph on Feb 26 in a secondary growth wooded area in Beaver County, PA. There was a large and spreading colony of these plants.
