The First Sign of Spring

Snowdrops were named in the Galanthus genus in 1753. Galanthus means "milk-flower" (gala from the Greek word meaning "milk" and anthos meaning "flower"). It is a genus containing 20 species of perennial herbaceous plants. Most species flower before the vernal equinox, however some may flower later, depending on the weather patterns.

Order - Asparagales

Family - Amaryllidaceae

Genus - Galanthus

Species - Galanthus nivalis

Snowdrops - I took these pictures just outside the Bio Atrium on the morning of 8/2/17 

As the image above demonstrates, snowdrops are a single white flower resembling a bell-shape, with six petaloid tepals arranged into two whorls, and the smaller inner petals have visible green markings. The flower's six free tepals are arranged into two whorls, with the outer tepals being larger and more convex than the inner tepals, which are by comparison much smaller.  They are monocotyledons, which refers to any flowering plant with seeds that contain just one embryonic leaf, or "cotyledon". The "vernation" (arrangement of emerging leaves) varies between species of snowdrop. This particular species of snowdrop (G. nivalis) grows best in woodland habitats, in either acidic or alkaline soil, to approximately 7-15cm in height.

These plants "perennate", meaning they have the ability to survive from one germinating season to the next from the same bulb, which may be found underground. These plants may spread rapidly by forming bulb off-shoots, by seed dispersal and by animal disturbance.

Snowdrops are numerous throughout Europe, with Galanthus nivalis being the most widespread plant of the genus Galanthus. Galanthus nivalis may be found over an area of Europe extending from the Pyrenees into France and Poland, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Turkey, and are also found in the UK. They have been introduced into areas of North America, where they have been used as an ornamental species. It may not be a native species to the UK, contrary to common belief, and may have actually been introduced in the 15th-16th centuries.

Some snowdrop species in the genus Galanthus are threatened, as a result of the habitat changes we are seeing as a consequence of climate change, as well as habitat destruction and illegal collection. Under CITES regulations, any trade in Galanthus species must be with a CITES permit, however this does not apply to three Galanthus species, which includes G. nivalis (our common snowdrop). Having said this, the IUCN lists G. nivalis as a "Near Threatened" species, as a result of declining populations.

Interestingly, snowdrops contain a small amount of the toxin lectin (an agglutinin), named GNA for "Galanthus nivalis agglutinin". When this gene was added to modified potatoes, and these potatoes were fed to a population of rats, it was found that the GNA gene had caused damage to the intestines and immune systems of the rats! In addition to this, snowdrops may have medicinal uses. The "magical" herb moly appearing in Homer's Odyssey, may actually have been the snowdrop. Snowdrops contain an active chemical called galantamine. Galantamine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which may have been an antidote to Circe's (a Greek goddess) poisons. Galantamine is also useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.