Snowdrop  (Galanthus krasnovii)

Galanthus krasnovii is an extremely rare species of snowdrop. Like all members of the genus it is a perennial plant that survives the dry season as a bulb underground. The bulbs of G. krasnovii are distinctly elongated (almost club-shaped) (5), and are covered with a thin papery layer (4). At the beginning of the growing season, a shoot emerges from the bulb and breaks through the soil into the open air. Each bulb has two green leaves, with one leaf encircling the other. The leaves of this species are particularly broad, forming impressive luxuriant plants (5). In the middle of the leaves is a single inflorescence (flower stalk), known as the scape (4). The scape bears a single erect bud, which becomes a pendent, white bell-like flower at maturity (4). The position of the flower protects it from damage by rain and wind, and the inner petals form a loose tube, upon which bees alight during pollination (4).