grape hyacinth

Grape hyacinth
M. racemosum / neglectum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Hyacinthaceae
Genus:	Muscari Mill.
Species
about 40 including: Muscari armeniacum Muscari aucheri Muscari azureum Muscari botryoides Muscari comosum Muscari dionyscum Muscari latifolium Muscari muscarimi (=M. moschatum) Muscari pinardis Muscari racemosum (= M. neglectum) Muscari tubergenianum

The genus Muscari, commonly and collectively known as grape hyacinths, are a group of deciduous plants native to Eurasia that produce urn-shaped spikes of dense, most commonly blue, flowers resembling bunches of grapes in the spring. White cultivars also exist.

Taxonomy

Classified as being in the family Hyacinthaceae, they have also been placed amongst the Liliaceae as a member of the Hyacintheae tribe. There are about forty species. These are subdivided into subgenera e.g Botryanthus. ^[1]

Some species are among the earliest to bloom in the spring. They are planted as bulbs and tend to multiply quickly (naturalise) when planted in good soils. They prefer well drained sandy soil, that is acid to neutral and not too rich. May be found in woodlands or meadows, they are commonly cultivated in lawns, borders, rock gardens and containers. They require little feeding or watering in the summer, and sun or light shade.

Muscari comosum bulbs are pickled and eaten in Greece under the name βολβοί ([vol'vi] lit. 'bulbs') and in the Basilicata and Puglia region of Italy, under the names "lampascioni", "lampasciuni", "lamponi".

The Muscari have originated in the old world, from the Mediterranean basin, the Center and South of Europe, Northern Africa, the West, Center and South-West of Asia. The term muscari comes from the Latin muscus, since the scent is said to resemble musk.

Species

M. aucheri is available in a number of cultivars such as 'Blue Magic' and 'White Magic'

M. azureum (syn. Hyacinthus azureus, Hyacinthella azurea) is bright blue but there are light blue and white varieties.

M. latifolium has flowers varying from deep indigo at the base to pale violet at the tip.

M. tubergenianum varies from deep blue at the base to bright blue at the tip.

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Muscari

Photo of Grape Hyacinth growing in the wild in Armenia.	A hoverfly clings to a grape hyacinth	Grape Hyacinth growing in Detroit Michigan, USA.	Cultivated grape hyacinths growing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

References

• Horton A, McNair J. All About Bulbs. Ortho, San Ramon 1987

External links

• Muscaripages
• Rainy Side Gardeners Muscari botryoides
• Pacific Bulb Society
• The Plant Expert

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