Description
(Scilla)
Though lumped by some into S. bifolia this is in fact a most distinct species separated by a very different genetic makeup which remains constant within the species yet is different to S. bifolia, though both are diploids. This was expressed as “a considerable phylogenetic distance between these two diploid species” by Johann Greilhuber and Franz Speta, (Plant Systematics and Evolution, June 1977, Volume 127, Issue 2, pp 171-190) when they actually investigated the plant. There is also a subspecies and several geographical and colour forms. The differences were considered consistent over a very wide geographical range.
Judita Kochjarova (http://www.preslia.cz/P053CKoc.pdf) suggests that Scilla vindobonensis is a Pannonian species (think of Colchicum pannonicum)! It occurs mainly in floodplain forests along the river Danube, and growing in the alluvia of some of its tributaries. It is found as far north as the Elbe near Dresden in Germany (Speta 1977, 1980).
The plant offered was verified by Franz Speta and has paired-leaves edged with red and at flowering time these are quite long, though they remain narrow. These leaves are produced alongside slender spikes of small, up facing blue stars which have blue ovaries and anthers. Good when potted or grown in an alpine house but fully hardy and readily grown in a humus-rich soil.
