Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Species: Galanthus nivalis
I always feel a sudden burst of
joy when I see snowdrops, as it means the cold weather is finally on its way
out. It's not long until everywhere is bursting with life and colour, and I can venture out to my 9am lectures without having to wear three extra layers to prevent me freezing to death. Those small, white flowers are a symbol of consolation, hope, purity and cleansing, and most
importantly (for me), a signal for the end of Winter. Snowdrops are perennial
plants native to large parts of Europe, most commonly found in woodlands, parks
and gardens (anywhere with some open areas of grass really – which UEA has
plenty of). They flower in February and March, meaning that they are one of the
few flowers that are present when snow is still on the ground, as it has been
this week! Interestingly enough, I took these pictures on February 2nd,
and there is an old proverb saying “The snowdrop in purest white array, first
rears her head on Candlemas Day” - which is February 2nd! Weird!
Early flowering is aided by
hardened leaf tips which can push through the frozen soil. They are therefore
the earliest flowering bulb, with 20 species known. Those keen or even obsessed
with collecting snowdrops are called galanthophiles (I like snowdrops as much
as the next person, but I wouldn’t go that
far!). This is not to be confused with snowdropping, which is a slang term
originating from Australian prisons which describes stealing clothes from other
people’s washing lines, as prisoners would do if they needed a quick change of
appearance. But anyway, this is off-topic….
Snowdrops are 2.7 to 12 inches in
height, with a single milk-white flower hanging loosely in a bell-like shape,
with a sweet, pleasant odour, not dissimilar to honey. The three inner petals
have green tips and overlap the outer petals to form a tube. The best way to
grow snowdrops is to lift a group every second year (as they live for two years
in the wild) as the leaves start to yellow in late spring, split all the bulbs
and then plant them separately with a pinch of bonemeal in the hole.
They are pollinated by bees in
February and March, but cross-pollination is rare due to the cold winter
weather and therefore most plants are sterile. Therefore these little drops of
snow spread mainly through bulb division. Those that are not sterile produce
miniature, white seeds which attract ants which they collect and transfer in
underground tunnels.
Uses:
A substance called galanthamine
can be isolated from snowdrops, which can be used for treating Alzheimer’s
under the name of Reminyl through improving working of certain receptors in the
brain, and can be used to improve sleep.
It has ornamental value because
of its delicate beauty, with millions being sold each year.
Snowdrop lectin is an effective
insecticide and can be used against pests such as beetles, butterflies and
moths and aphids. There is potential for research into using this substance in
GM crops to increase resistance in crops such as tomatoes and tobacco to
increase their resistance to insect pests.
Snowdrop lectin is being studied
to assess its potential in acting against HIV.
Snowdrops contain their own
anti-freeze proteins – they were harvested during the First World War to make
anti-freeze for tanks
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