Fritillaria pyrenaica is a species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae, native to the Pyrenees in Spain and France.[2] Common names include Pyrenean fritillary[3] and Pyrenean snake's-head.[4] It is a bulbous perennial growing to 45 cm (18 in). The pendent, bell-shaped flowers are borne in spring. They have recurved tepals[5] which are purple tinged with brown and yellow.[2] Like other species in this genus, notably F. meleagris, they are strongly chequered.[5]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are currently recognized:[1][6]

Fritillaria pyrenaica subsp. boissieri (Costa) Vigo & Valdés[7]

Fritillaria pyrenaica subsp. pyrenaica

Cultivation

In cultivation in the UK Fritillaria pyrenaica has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3][8] It grows in any open place, such as a flower border or meadow, in full sun. Like all the Liliaceae, it is subject to predation by the scarlet lily beetle and its larvae.[3]

  • Arising
    Arising
  • Flower buds
    Flower buds
  • Flower (outer side)
    Flower (outer side)
  • Flower (inner side)
    Flower (inner side)
  • Mature seed capsules
    Mature seed capsules

References

  1. ^ a b The Plant List
  2. ^ a b Cheers, G. and H. F. Ullmann. Botanica: The Illustrated A-Z of Over 10,000 Garden Plants and how to Cultivate Them. Könemann im Tandem. 2004. p. 384. ISBN 3-8331-1253-0
  3. ^ a b c Fritillaria pyrenaica. Royal Horticultural Society.
  4. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ^ a b RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  6. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Fritillaria pyrenaica subsp. boissieri
  7. ^ Vigo Bonada, Josep & Valdés, Benito. 2004. Willdenowia 34: 64.
  8. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 39. Retrieved 27 February 2018.