Family |
Asparagaceae
Hyacinthus orientalis
L.
Hyacinthus orientalis L.
First published in Sp. Pl.: 317 (1753).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, p. 246, Pl. LXXVIII, 3; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Bulbous perennial with an oval to rounded bulb reaching 5 cm across and one or more flowering stems 15–30 cm tall.
Leaves: Basal, broad-linear, blunt and channelled.
Inflorescence & flowers: Raceme with a variable number of flowers, rarely more than ten in wild plants. Fragrant blue-violet flowers, about 2 cm long, stand on short stalks above small membranous bracts. The tube occupies at least half the perianth; its spreading triangular lobes have darker markings. Stamens and the short style remain within the tube.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering March–April.
Habitat & elevation: Stony fields and woodland.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Qaitoule, Abey, Aley, Qrayye, Chemlan, Deir el Qamar, Bhamdoun, Meknine, Bikfaya, Jabal Fughry, Ghebale, Antoura du Metn, Ghazir, Dahr el Baidar, Qartaba road, Barouk cedars, Ain Zhalta, Mejdel Tarchiche, Jabal Barouk, Zahle, Baalbeck and Abou Mizan.
Syrian distribution: Hosn Sleiman, Latakia, Mhanbel–Eriha, Kessab and Kizil Dagh.
Native range: Iraq, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Türkiye.
Introduced into: Arkansas, Bulgaria, California, Cuba, Cyprus, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico Central, Netherlands, NW. Balkan Pen., Pennsylvania, Sardegna, Sicilia, Texas.