Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis L.) and its phenotypic diversity in Slovenia

Abstract

In Slovenia Galanthus nivalis L. is a widely distributed species, being also the sole representative of the genus. Expansive local populations of snowdrops grow on the margins of forests, in forests and non-manured meadows. Based on the observation of its phenotypic diversity over a number of years, both in the wild and after the transfer of specimens to the Botanic Garden in Ljubljana, the morphotypes were divided into groups with respect to the following: shape of flower, size of plant as a whole, shape of outer and inner perianth segments, number of outer and inner perianth segments, green markings of outer perianth segments, pattern of inner perianth segments, shape and colour of the ovary, bracts, extra bracts, green basal leaves (number, width, colour). The Botanic Garden collection currently contains over 1000 specimens of G. nivalis, among which all aforementioned groups are represented.