Galanthus nivalis (Bucaneve, Common Snowdrop, Flower of Hope, Snowdrop) Bucaneve, Common Snowdrop, Flower of Hope, Snowdrop French Galanthus nivalis L. ssp. atkinsii Mallett Galanthus nivalis L. ssp. carpaticus S.S.Fodor Galanthus nivalis L. ssp. hololeuca Celak. Galanthus nivalis L. ssp. majus Ten. Galanthus nivalis L. ssp. minus Ten. Galanthus nivalis L. ssp. scharlockii Casp. Galanthus scharlokii (Casp.) Baker Galanthus umbricus Dammann Taxonomic Notes: There are over 50 synonyms for Galanthus nivalis and this is due to several reasons: it is a variable species and throughout its distribution a number of taxa have been named in an attempt to record this variation; because of its long history in cultivation, a large number of taxa and cultivars have been recognised, leading to an even greater proliferation of names; and before many other species had been described, most Galanthus were referred to or associated with G.

nivalis, probably because it was the best known and most ubiquitous species (Davis 1999). Melnyk, V. Justification: Galanthus nivalis has an extensive distribution across Europe. There is some uncertainty, however, concerning the extent of native subpopulations due to widespread naturalisation. Many native subpopulations of G. nivalis occur in small relictual forest/woodlands and further loss of suitable habitats would lead to a definite decline in the species. Climate change is also likely to threaten G. nivalis due to the loss of suitable micro- and macro-habitats, where it is currently found. The species is listed as Near Threatened, Vulnerable or even Critically Endangered in several European countries and is included on nearly every country's Red List, suggesting the subpopulations in each of the countries are under threat. Harvesting and trade of the species is still occurring on a local scale, even though international trade is restricted by CITES. A rating of Near Threatened at the global level is suggested here due to all the above factors threatening the population as a whole, and the possibility of G.

nivalis qualifying for a threat category in the near future (VU A3cd). Geographic Range [top] Range Description: Galanthus nivalis is found throughout Europe: eastwards from the Pyrenees and northern Spain to the Ukraine, and southwards from Germany and Poland to southern Italy, Albania and northern Greece. Galanthus nivalis does not occur in Turkey or in the Caucasus mountains. It is doubtfully native in many locations in northwestern Europe above 50ºN latitude and is introduced and naturalised in the UK, Netherlands and other countries of northern Europe. Although found over a wide altitude range, most populations are found below 900 m asl.

Countries occurrence: Native: Austria; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Greece; Italy; Moldova; Montenegro; Poland; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia (Kosovo, Serbia); Slovakia; Spain; Switzerland; Ukraine Introduced: Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland I, Ontario); Netherlands; Norway; Sweden; United Kingdom; United States (Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia) Additional data: Population [top] Population: Native populations are believed to be relictual. Galanthus nivalis has been described as a relict species in the community of Valencia, Spain, where only three wild populations are known (Estrelles et al. 2001). Specific population data is available for several subpopulations, such as that in the East Carpathians (Budnikov and Kricsfalusy 1994): Seed productivity studies of various populations of G. nivalis in the East Carpathians showed that population age structure remains stable due to regeneration through seed. Lowland-foothill populations appear to have the highest generative reproduction capacity.

Lowland populations are also predominated by juvenile plants (about 40%), with mature plants in lower numbers. This is thought to be caused by a large amount of harvesting in these lowland areas. The upper mountain belt has a much higher percentage of mature (58%) than juvenile (11%) plants. These populations are considerably less “affected” by human pressures and likely to represent a “normal” age structure. Current Population Trend: Habitat and Ecology [top] Habitat and Ecology: Most frequently occurring in moist conditions in deciduous woodland (Fagus silvatica, Quercus spp., Carpinus spp. etc.), and occasionally in coniferous woodland (Abies spp.). Also occurring in meadows, pasture, amongst scrub, near rivers and on stony slopes, particularly on calcareous soils. Galanthus nivalis is a cross pollinating plant, but sometimes self-pollination takes place. It is pollinated by bees. Seeds have elaiosomes which are eaten by ants and they carry seeds through underground tunnels, helping to distribute them. Systems: Use and Trade [top] Use and Trade: Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is an outdoor ornamental spring flower widely grown around the world.

It is one of the most popular of all cultivated bulbous plants. Galanthus nivalis is ubiquitous in cultivation, and hundreds of thousands of individuals are sold each year in horticultural trade. Five alkaloids are contained in the above-ground part of G. nivalis and five also in the underground part. One is Galanthamin which is a strong poison and is used in medicine to relieve traumatic injuries to the nervous system. Another is Lycorine, which can also cause poisoning. Some individuals were poisoned after ingesting the bulbs as emergency food in Holland during World War II. Large amounts of bulbs need to be ingested to produce toxic reactions, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The plant is also an emmenagogue - it promotes or increases menstrual flow or can induce an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy. The mannose-binding specific lectin from Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin; GNA) is an effective insecticide against a wide variety of pest insects in the orders Homotera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera with hardly any effect on non-target insects and soil bacterial communities.

GNA is regarded as a potential insecticidal gene to be engineered into cultivated plants to increase the range of pests affected and to delay the development of insect resistance. Researchers have advocated transgenically transforming crops such as grapefruit, tobacco, tomato, potato, rice and wheat with GNA in order to increase their resistance against insect pests. Beyond being investigated for its uses as an insecticide, GNA lectin is also being investigated for its use in antibody and HIV research. Threats [top] Major Threat(s): The survival of many Galanthus species is threatened in nature due to habitat destruction and collecting for the horticultural trade. Galanthus is the most heavily traded wild-collected bulb genus in the world. However, all species have been listed in CITES Appendix II since 1990 and trade in wild specimens is now heavily restricted. In addition, most nurseries are selling stock which has been raised from selected reliable clones, therefore avoiding the use of wild populations (Davis 1999). Reported trade in wild specimens of G. nivalis virtually ceased in 1995, with the cessation of reported exports from Hungary.

CITES-reported exports of live/bulbs of Galanthus nivalis: Hungary: 200,000 (1992), 120,000 (1993), 150,000 (1994) Romania: 41 kg (2000) Conservation Actions [top] Conservation Actions: Galanthus nivalis is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), under Annex B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation 318-2008 and on Annex V of the EC Habitats Directive 92/43. Galanthus nivalis is included in the Red Data Books of the following countries: Austria (Niklfeld 1999), Italy (Conti et al. 1997), Italy / Sicily (Conti et al. 1997), Italy / Sardinia (Conti et al.

1997), Netherlands (van der Meijden 2000), Romania (1994), It has been assigned different threat ratings in several countries: Endangered in Bulgaria (Petrova and Vladimirov 2009) Vulnerable in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Šilić 1996), Czech Republic (Procházka 2001), and Germany (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996) Near Threatened in Switzerland (Moser et al. 2002) and Slovakia (Feraková et al. 2001) Rare in Greece (Phitos et al.

1995), Moldova (Postolache 1995) and Ukraine (Schelag-Soconko 1996) Least Concern in Croatia (Nikolić and Topić 2005) Galanthus nivalis populations are found in several protected areas throughout Europe including: Volcan Montsacopa, Partial Nature Reserve, Spain Massis del Montseny Nature Park, Spain Micro-reserve network in Valencia, Spain Ecrins National Park Buffer Zone, France Poondri Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic Litovelske Pomoravi Ramsar Site, Czech Republic Labske Piskovce Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria Rila National Park, Bulgaria Snowdrops (Galanthus) Snowdrops Garden Snowdrop The major benefit of planting Garden Snowdrops is their early arrival. They can show up weeks before crocuses do, and will often poke through a covering of snow. In the South, snowdrops may even bloom all winter long. A snowdrop plant looks like three drops of milk hanging from a stem. This accounts for the Latin name Galanthus which means "milk-white flowers".

Since they are small, you probably need to plant a large number to make a dramatic effect. However, in a rock garden, or planted among other early-blooming plants like Snow Crocuses, an odd number of snowdrops here and there can be just as effective. Under the right circumstances (see Notes ) snowdrops will naturalize very well, and a planting of them can last a lifetime. They are well worth the investment. As an added benefit, snowdrops (like other members of the Amaryllis family) are normally avoided by deer and rodents. Flowering time: Galanthus nivalis - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Galanthus nivalis Galanthus nivalis Common snowdrop The common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is the best-known representative of a small genus of about 20 species in the family Amaryllidaceae that are among the first bulbs to bloom in spring.

Single flowered[ edit ] Galanthus nivalis Poculiformis Group - inner segments are almost same length and shape as outer ones, usually unmarked and without a "sinus" (notch); includes such cultivars as 'Sandhill Gate' Galanthus nivalis Sandersii Group - marks on inner segments are yellow instead of green; includes 'Sandersii' and 'Lutescens' G. nivalis Scharlockii Group - "donkey's ears snowdrop" with elongated spathe split down center, resembling upright ears Double-flowered[ edit ] G. nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Blewbury Tart' - upward- or outward-facing flowers with dark green markings in the center G. nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno' - doubles, usually quite untidy rosettes of extra segments of uneven length G. nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Lady Elphinstone' - a version of 'Flore Pleno' with yellowish coloring inside the flowers instead of green; may revert or vary from year to year G. nivalis f.

pleniflorus 'Pusey Green Tip' - with small green tips to the outer segments Double-flowered forms such as Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno' may be less attractive to the eye of the purist. There are numerous cultivars (cultivated varieties), single and double, differing particularly in the size and markings of the flower, the period of flowering, and other characteristics of interest to keen (even fanatical) collectors known as "galanthophiles". Other notable species: Crimean snowdrop, Galanthus plicatus , 30 cm tall, flowering January/March, white flowers, with broad leaves folded back at the edges Giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii , a native of the Levant, 23 cm tall, flowering January/February, with large flowers, the three inner segments of which often have a much larger and more conspicuous green blotch (or blotches) than the more common kinds.

Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) 0 Saved Plants Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) Snowdrop, Common Snowdrop, Fair Maids of February, Little Sister of the Snows, Purification Flower, Candlemas Bells, Candlemas Lily, Common Bells Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) is one of the earliest and loveliest spring flowering bulbs, adding several weeks of color and beauty to the garden in late winter - early spring. Slightly fragrant, this small bulbous perennial features dainty, nodding white flowers with a green spot at the apex of each petal atop 2 narrow, greyish-green leaves. The foliage emerges before the flowers, develops to during and after bloom, and neatly fades away in spring. Grows up to 8-10 inches tall (20-25 cm). Once established, it naturalizes well and comes back year after year. It will multiply very quickly under favorable growing conditions. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

Thrives in moist soils that provide sufficient nutrients in part shade. Best planted en masse in sweeping drifts in woodlands, lawns or under deciduous trees. Also great in clusters in rock gardens or border fronts. Low maintenance, it doesn't need weeding or deadheading! Deer and critter resistant, it is virtually disease and trouble free! Plant the bulbs 2-3 in. deep (5-7 cm) and space 2-3 in. apart (5-7 cm) in fall. Allow the foliage to die back naturally to replenish the bulb's energy for next year's growth and flowers. Propagate by seed, sown in containers in an open frame when ripe or division when foliage dies back. Seed may not come true Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset and skin contact might irritate. Galanthus - 必应 Sign in Galanthus A list of Irish cultivars can be found here Propagation[edit] Propagation is by offset bulbs, either by careful division of clumps in full growth ("in the green"), or removed when the plants are dormant, immediately after the leaves have withered; or by seeds sown either when ripe, or in spring.

Professional growers and keen amateurs also use such methods as "twin-scaling" to increase the stock of choice cultivars quickly. Galanthus Description All species of Galanthus are perennial, herbaceous plants which grow from bulbs. Each bulb generally produces just two or three linear leaves and an erect, leafless scape (flowering stalk), which bears at the top a pair of bract-like spathe valves joined by a papery membrane. From between them emerges a solitary, pendulous, bell-shaped white flower, held on a slender pedicel. The flower has no petals: it consists of six tepals, the outer three being larger and more convex than the inner series. The six anthers open by pores or short slits. The ovary is three-celled, ripening into a three-celled capsule. Each whitish seed has a small, fleshy tail (elaiosome) containing substances attractive to ants which distribute the seeds. The leaves die back a few weeks after the flowers have faded. The inner flower segments are usually marked with a green, or greenish-yellow, bridge-shaped mark over the small "sinus" (notch) at the tip of each tepal.

An important feature which helps to distinguish between species (and to help to determine the parentage of hybrids) is their "vernation" (the arrangement of the emerging leaves relative to each other). This can be "applanate", "supervolute" or "explicative". In applanate vernation the two leaf blades are pressed flat to each other within the bud and as they emerge; explicative leaves are also pressed flat against each other, but the edges of the leaves are folded back or sometimes rolled; in supervolute plants one leaf is tightly clasped around the other within the bud and generally remains at the point where the leaves emerge from the soil. Notable species include: Common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis, grows to around 7–15 cm tall, flowering between January and April in the northern temperate zone (January–May in the wild).

Applanate vernation Crimean snowdrop, Galanthus plicatus, 30 cm tall, flowering January/March, white flowers, with broad leaves folded back at the edges (explicative vernation) Giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii, a native of the Levant, 23 cm tall, flowering January/February, with large flowers, the three inner segments of which often have a much larger and more conspicuous green blotch (or blotches) than the more common kinds; supervolute vernation Galanthus reginae-olgae, from Greece and Sicily, is quite similar in appearance to G. nivalis, but flowers in autumn before the leaves appear. The leaves, which appear in the spring, have a characteristic white stripe on their upper side; applanate vernation G. reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis, from Sicily, northern Greece and the southern part of former Yugoslavia, blooms at the end of the winter with developed young leaves and is thus easily confused with G. nivalis. Species As of February 2012, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognises 19 species.

A 20th species, Galanthus panjutinii (Panjutin's snowdrop), was recognised during 2012. Discovered in five locations in a small area (estimated at 20 km2) of the northern Colchis area (western Transcaucasus) of Georgia and Russia, it is classed as Endangered. One of its five known sites, at Sochi, was destroyed by preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Galanthus alpinus Sosn. – Turkey, Caucasus Galanthus angustifolius Koss – Caucasus Galanthus elwesii Hook.f. – Greece, Balkans, Ukraine, Turkey Galanthus fosteri Baker – Turkey, Syria, Jordan Galanthus gracilis Celak. – Greece, Balkans, Ukraine, Turkey Galanthus ikariae Baker – Aegean Islands (Andros, Ikaria, Naxos, Skyros) Galanthus koenenianus Lobin – Turkey Galanthus krasnovii Khokhr. – Turkey, Caucasus Galanthus lagodechianus Kem.-Nath.

– Caucasus Galanthus nivalis L. – southern + central Europe from Pyrenees to Ukraine Galanthus panjutinii Zubov & A.P.Davis – Caucasus Galanthus peshmenii A.P.Davis & C.D.Brickell – southwestern Turkey, Greek Island of Kastellorizo (Megisti) Galanthus platyphyllus Traub & Moldenke – Caucasus Galanthus plicatus M.Bieb. – Caucasus, Turkey, Ukraine, Crimea, Romania Galanthus reginae-olgae Orph. – Greece, Sicily, Balkans Galanthus rizehensis Stern – Turkey, Caucasus Galanthus transcaucasicus Fomin – Iran, Caucasus Galanthus trojanus A.P.Davis & Özhatay – Turkey Galanthus woronowii Losinsk. – Turkey, Caucasus Galanthus Distribution and habitat The genus Galanthus is native to Europe and the Middle East, from Spain, France and Germany in the west through to Iran in the east.

It has become naturalized in other parts of Europe (Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands) as well as in eastern Canada and the United States. Galanthus nivalis is the best-known and most widespread representative of the genus Galanthus. It is native to a large area of Europe, stretching from the Pyrenees in the west, through France and Germany to Poland in the north, Italy, Northern Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and European Turkey. It has been introduced and is widely naturalised elsewhere. Although it is often thought of as a British native wild flower, or to have been brought to the British Isles by the Romans, it was probably introduced around the early sixteenth century and is currently not a protected species in the UK. Most other Galanthus species are from the eastern Mediterranean, but several are found in southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Galanthus fosteri comes from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and maybe Israel. Cultivars There are numerous single- and double-flowered cultivars of Galanthus nivalis, and also of several other Galanthus species, particularly G. plicatus and G. elwesii.

There are also many hybrids between these and other species (there are more than 500 cultivars described in Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw's book, plus lists of many cultivars that have now been lost, and others not seen by the authors). They differ particularly in the size, shape and markings of the flower, the period of flowering, and other characteristics, mainly of interest to the keen (even fanatical) snowdrop collectors, known as "galanthophiles", who hold meetings where the scarcer cultivars change hands. Double-flowered cultivars and forms, such as the extremely common Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno', may be less attractive to some people but they can have greater visual impact in a garden setting. The following species and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:- A list of Irish cultivars can be found here Galanthus Active substances It was suggested by Andreas Plaitakis and Roger Duvoisin in 1983 that the mysterious magical herb moly that appears in Homer's Odyssey is actually snowdrop.

An active substance in snowdrop is called galantamine, which, as anticholinesterase, could have acted as an antidote to Circe's poisons. Galantamine (or galanthamine) can be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, though it is not a cure;[citation needed] the substance also occurs naturally in daffodils and other narcissi.[citation needed] Snowdrops contain also an active lectin or agglutinin named GNA for Galanthus nivalis agglutinin. In 1995 Árpád Pusztai genetically modified potatoes with the GNA gene, which work he discussed on a radio interview in 1998 and published in the Lancet in 1999. In 1998 said in an interview on a World in Action programme that his group had observed damage to the intestines and immune systems of rats fed the genetically modified potatoes. He also said "If I had the choice I would certainly not eat it", and that "I find it's very unfair to use our fellow citizens as guinea pigs". These remarks started the so-called Pusztai affair.

Galanthus In popular culture In the fairy-tale play The Twelve Months by Russian writer Samuil Marshak, a greedy queen decrees that a basket of gold coins shall be rewarded to anyone who can bring her galanthus flowers in the dead of winter. A young orphan Girl is sent out during a snow storm by her cruel stepmother and find the spirits of the 12 months of the year, who take pity on her and not only save her from freezing to death, but make it possible for her to gather the flowers even in winter. The Soviet traditionally animated film The Twelve Months (1956), Lenfilm film The Twelve Months (1972) and the anime film Twelve Months (1980) (Sekai meisaku dowa mori wa ikiteiru in Japan) are based on this fairy-tale play.

"Snowdrops" was the nickname that the British people gave during the Second World War to the military police of the United States Army (who were stationed in the UK preparatory to the invasion of the continent) because they wore a white helmet, gloves, gaiters, and Sam Browne belt against their olive drab uniform The short story The Snowdrop by Hans Christian Andersen follows the fate of a snowdrop from a bulb striving towards the light to a picked flower placed in a book of poetry. In Stardust, a glass snowdrop is given to Dunstan for a kiss by Una. It's later used to protect Tristan from the magic of Lamia. In the musical Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter (1948) the character Lilli/Katherine is deeply pleased at receiving a pre-opening night performance bouquet of "pansies, snowdrops, and rosemary. Our wedding bouquet," from her ex, Fred/Patruchio. But--the bouquet was meant for the younger, ingenue lead, Lois/Bianca. ^ a b c "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Retrieved 2012-02-03., search for "Galanthus" ^ P.F. Stevens (2001–2016). "Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Amaryllidoideae". Retrieved 18 January 2016. ^ Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002), p. 7. ^ Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002), pp. 1–2. ^ a b Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002), p. 17. ^ Hyam, R. & Pankhurst, R.J. (1995). Plants and their names: a concise dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-866189-4. pp. 202, 342. ^ "Kew website: Galanthus panjutinii (Panjutin's snowdrop)". Retrieved 8 February 2013. ^ "Galanthus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Retrieved 18 May 2014. ^ Davis (1999), pp. 95–96. ^ Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002), pp. 17–57. ^ Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002), p. 40. ^ Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002), p. 341–343. ^ "Great British Gardens: Snowdrops and Snowdrop Gardens 2007". Retrieved 11 March 2007. ^ "VisitScotland.com: Snowdrop Festival". Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2007. ^ Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002), p. 329 ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus 'Atkinsii'". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus elwesii". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus".

Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus 'Magnet'". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus nivalis". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno'". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus plicatus". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus 'S. Arnott'". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ "RHS Plant Selector – Galanthus woronowii". Retrieved 20 June 2013. ^ Andreas Plaitakis & Roger C. Duvoisin (1983). "Homer's moly identified as Galanthus nivalis L.: physiologic antidote to stramonium poisoning". Clinical Neuropharmacology 6 (1): 1–6.

doi:10.1097/00002826-198303000-00001. PMID6342763. ^ Gerko Hester, Hanae Kaku, Irwin J. Goldstein & Christine Schubert Wright (1995). "Structure of mannose-specific snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) lectin is representative of a new plant lectin family". Nature Structural Biology 2: 472–479. doi:10.1038/nsb0695-472. PMID7664110. ^ a b "Árpád Pusztai: Biological Divide – James Randerson interviews biologist Árpád Pusztai". London: The Guardian. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010. ^ Stanley W.B. Ewen & Árpád Pusztai (1999). "Effect of diets containing genetically modified potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestine".

The Lancet 354 (9187): 1353–1354. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(98)05860-7. PMID10533866. Galanthus nivalis, usually known as the Garden Snowdrop. - YouTube Galanthus nivalis, usually known as the Garden Snowdrop. Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Jan 31, 2012 215 651 8329 Call us for trees and shrubs and small ground covers. There are 75 different species and varieties of snowdrops. They are all white. Isn't that boring? This is probably why only two species are commonly cultivated. The first is 215 651 8329 Call us for trees and shrubs and small ground covers.

There are 75 different species and varieties of snowdrops. They are all white. Isn't that boring? This is probably why only two species are commonly cultivated. The first is Galanthus nivalis, usually known as the Garden Snowdrop. Garden Snowdrop The major benefit of planting Garden Snowdrops is their early arrival in the mid winter. They can show up weeks before crocuses do, and will often poke through a covering of snow. In the South, snowdrops sometimes even bloom all winter long. A snowdrop plant looks like three drops of milk hanging from a stem. This accounts for the Latin name Galanthus which means "milk-white flowers". Since they are small, you probably need to plant a large number to make a dramatic effect. However, in a rock garden, or planted among other early-blooming plants like Snow Crocuses, an odd number of snowdrops here and there can be just as effective. Plus these are very ez to plant. Under the right circumstances (see Notes) snowdrops will naturalize very well, and a planting of them can last a lifetime. They are well worth the investment.

As an added benefit, snowdrops (like other members of the Amaryllis family) are normally avoided by deer and rodents. Garden Snowdrop The major benefit of planting Garden Snowdrops is their early arrival in the mid winter. They can show up weeks before crocuses do, and will often poke through a covering of snow. In the South, snowdrops sometimes even bloom all winter long. A snowdrop plant looks like three drops of milk hanging from a stem. This accounts for the Latin name Galanthus which means "milk-white flowers". Since they are small, you probably need to plant a large number to make a dramatic effect. However, in a rock garden, or planted among other early-blooming plants like Snow Crocuses, an odd number of snowdrops here and there can be just as effective. Plus these are very ez to plant. Under the right circumstances (see Notes) snowdrops will naturalize very well, and a planting of them can last a lifetime. They are well worth the investment. As an added benefit, snowdrops (like other members of the Amaryllis family) are normally avoided by deer and rodents.

Category Galanthus nivalis Snowdrop, Common Snowdrop PFAF Plant Database Care Summary Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late winter, Mid winter. Form: Upright or erect. Physical Characteristics Galanthus nivalis is a BULB growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf 6-Jan It is in flower from Feb to March, and the seeds ripen from May to June. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil. Synonyms Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Meadow; Edible Uses None known Medicinal Uses Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants.

Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. The plant is emmenagogue[4]. Other Uses None known Cultivation details Landscape Uses:Alpine garden, Border, Container, Foundation, Massing, Rock garden, Woodland garden. Prefers a moist heavy loam[108], growing well in grass or amongst shrubs[1]. Prefers a shady position[28, 31]. The dormant bulbs are fairly hardy and will withstand soil temperatures down to at least -5°c[214]. A very ornamental plant[1], it grows well on the woodland edge[24]. The bulbs should be planted about 5 - 7cm deep as early in the spring as possible[1]. A good bee plant, providing an early source of pollen and nectar[108]. Special Features:Not North American native, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Fragrant flowers. Propagation Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Sow the seed thinly so that there is no need to thin them. The seed usually germinates in the spring[1].

Grow them on in the same pot in a cold frame for the first two years, giving an occasional liquid feed to ensure the plants do not become nutrient deficient. Pot up the small bulbs whilst they are still in leaf in early summer of their second year's growth, putting about 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in the cold frame for a further year before planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring whilst they are still in growth. The plants take about 4 years to flower from seed[200]. Division of offsets[1, 200]. This is best done immediately after the plants have finished flowering (and still have green leaves) though it can also be done in late summer and early autumn when the plants are dormant[200]. Scooping. Other Names Found In Weed Potential Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Related Plants Galantamine supplement benefit � Concentration � Alertness and Focus The ingredients include: Ashwagandha , Bacopa, Fo-Ti, Ginkgo biloba , Ginseng, Gotu kola, Mucuna pruriens, Reishi, and Rhodiola. The nutrients and vitamins in Mind Power Rx include Acetyl-l-carnitine, Carnitine, Carnosine , Choline , DMAE , Inositol, Methylcobalamin, Pantothenic acid, Trimethylglycine, and Vinpocetine. Galantamine for Alzheimer's disease, dementia Acta Neurol Scand. 2014. Galantamine treatment in outpatients with mild Alzheimer's disease. Seventy-five patients (55% women; mean ADAS-cog 22.3; mean age 70.2 years) were treated for approximately 36 months. About 60% (n = 45) received a total daily dose of 24 mg galantamine at final visit. Galantamine was generally safe and well tolerated during the 3-year observation period.

Cognition, behavior, and activities of daily living improved during 12 months treatment. At 3-year follow-up, worsening in all outcomes was measured; however, cognition remained improved compared with an untreated population. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2014. Effects of galantamine and galantamine combined with nimodipine on cognitive speed and quality of life in mixed dementia: a 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled exploratory trial (the REMIX study). The effects of galantamine (GAL) on quality of life (QoL) and cognitive speed, as well its effects combined with nimodipine (NIM) in Alzheimer disease (AD) with cerebrovascular disease (mixed dementia), have not been explored.METHOD:Double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Brazilian trial, studying the effects of GAL/NIM vs. GAL/placebo (PLA) in mild to moderate mixed dementia. Patients were randomized to receive GAL/NIM or GAL/PLA for 24 weeks. Primary efficacy measures were changes on a computerized neuropsychological battery (CNTB) and QoL Scale in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD) from baseline to week 24.

Twenty-one patients received at least one drug dose (9 GAL/NIM and 12 GAL/PLA). Groups were matched for age, sex, education, cognitive and QoL scores at baseline. No significant differences were observed between groups on primary or secondary measures. QoL and cognitive performance showed significant improvement from baseline when all GAL-treated patients were analyzed. Adverse events were predominantly mild to moderate. GAL treatment improved QoL in mixed dementia, in addition to its previously known cognitive benefits. The combination GAL/NIM was not advantageous. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004. Trials were identified from a search of the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group, last updated on in 2005 using the terms galanthamin, galantamin and Reminyl. Trials selected were randomised, double-blind, parallel-group comparisons of galantamine with placebo for a treatment duration of greater than 4 weeks in subjects with AD. This review shows consistent positive effects for galantamine for trials of 3 to 6 months duration.

Although there was not a statistically significant dose-response effect, doses above 8mg/d were, for the most part, consistently statistically significant. Galantamine's safety profile is similar to that of other cholinesterase inhibitors with respect to cholinergically mediated gastrointestinal symptoms. It appears that doses of 16 mg/d were best tolerated in the single trial where medication was titrated over a 4 week period, and because this dose showed statistically indistinguishable efficacy with higher doses, it is probably most preferable initially. Longer term use of galantamine has not been assessed in a controlled fashion. Long-term outcomes of galantamine treatment in patients with Alzheimer disease. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2004. The authors evaluated the long-term safety, efficacy, and tolerability of 24 mg/day in the treatment of Alzheimer disease by means of a 12-month, open-label extension of an earlier 5-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Results of this open-label extension support the findings from previous galantamine studies and demonstrate the safety and tolerability of this compound for up to 18 months. Chronic fatigue syndrome Effect of galantamine hydrobromide in chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

JAMA. 2004. There is no established pharmacological treatment for the core symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). To compare the efficacy and tolerability of galantamine hydrobromide in patients with CFS. A total of 89 patients were randomly assigned to receive 2.5 mg of galantamine hydrobromide; 86 patients, 5 mg; 91 patients, 7.5 mg; and 86 patients, 10 mg (these patients received medicine in the tablet form 3 times per day); a total of 82 patients received matching placebo tablets 3 times per day. This trial did not demonstrate any benefit of galantamine over placebo in the treatment of patients with CFS. Memory Can you kindly tell me if galantamine use, in non Alzheimer's disease patients, can have a paradoxical reaction in which memory worsens? I have not come across studies that indicate a worsening of memory with the use of this medication, but it is possible that the wrong dosage, often too high, could have unexpected results, or could negatively interact with other medications and supplements, or there could be individuals who respond in a manner that is different than other users.

Could this product be taken for just simple, 'severe' forgetfulness by an otherwise healthy person? Perhaps it could help but it is difficult to know without first trying it. It is a good idea to take frequent breaks from use. Nerve Gas exposure Treatment with galantamine in combination with atropine, protects guinea pigs from lethal doses of the nerve agents sarin and soman and the insecticide parathion. The toxic effect of these "organophosphorus" compounds derives from irreversible blockage of an enzyme critical to nerve function. The end result can be seizures and cardiac arrest. At present, atropine and other drugs are used to treat the toxic effects of organophosphorus compounds. However, these treatments have various limitations, including an inability to fully protect the brain from damage. Galantamine protects nerves from these chemicals by temporarily blocking the same enzyme. Researchers tested the effects of galantamine in guinea pigs exposed to lethal doses of sarin, soman, and paraoxon, the biologically active form of parathion. Atropine was given to counter the effects of these agents outside the brain.

Galantamine plus atropine safely and effectively counteracted the toxic effects of the organophosphorus compounds. Moreover, galantamine was well tolerated at the dosages needed to prevent death. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006. Primary progressive aphasia Thirty-six behavioral variety FTD and primary progressive aphasia (PPA) patients were treated in an open-label period of 18 weeks and a randomized, placebo-controlled phase for 8 weeks. Galantamine is not effective in the behavioral variety of FTD, but a trend of efficacy is shown in the aphasic subgroup. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008. Galantamine in frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia. Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer Research Centre, St. Joseph's Hospital, London, Ont. Dosage Q. My father had Alzheimer's starting by around age 70. I have had too many senior moments so I was happy to try a galantamine 8 mg pill. The results are immediately effective but as I am only 56 years old and want to be cognizant for as long as possible, I am taking it just once every 3 days.

I am afraid of building up a resistance to it and needing stronger and stronger doses. Is taking one 8 mg tablet every 3 days as safe as taking one galantamine 4 mg tablet every day? I happened to go to another company first where I purchased 120 tablets that are 8-mg each. By safe I only mean, what is the best way to not build up resistance to the dosage so that i need stronger doses? Although I prefer to start with the smaller dose i hate to throw out the 120 pills i bought in order to start with 4 mg. These are capsules which can't really be cut in half. I am an active person who is not considered to be cognitively impaired. I just notice too many senior moments and i don't want to get worse. I occasionally forget i put a teapot on or forget to get something at the store. Or sometimes I walk to the other end of the house to get something and then say to myself, now what did i want to get? A. There is not enough long term human research to know the safety of this substance when taken for many years or decades. The safest option is to take the least amount that works.

Some people may respond to galantamine 4 mg every other day, others may prefer 8 mg every third day. There are no right or wrong answers since what works for one person may not work for another. There are many other supplements that could be useful to maintain healthy memory and mind and it may be a good idea to occasionally take a break from using a galantamine supplement and try other brain boosters. You may find the book Mind Boosters to be helpful in this regard. Aricept Can a 85 year old woman take GalantaMind and Aricept together I'm out looking for answers to this question they told me tale Aricept one day then take GalantaMind the next and so forth till I get to the third week Is this a safe way to do it cautioned by research into this product. Combining Aricept and galantamine products such as GalantaMind the same day may produce or increase side effects. We don't have any experience with alternating the use of GalantaMInd and Aricept, but this is an interesting idea and worth a try under medical supervision and in low dosages.

An older person can have side effects to medications and supplements at a lower dosage than younger individuals, therefore the galantamine dosage and the Aricept dosage should be low even if one needs to take a portion of a tablet or capsule. Razadyne It galantamine the same generic version of Razadyne? As far as we know, yes. Reminyl What are the differences between galantamine supplement and the physician prescribed Reminyl prescription drug? This is a good question. As far as we know, they are identical, but we really have not seen the exact chemical analysis of Reminyl drug to know for sure. Clinical pharmacokinetics of galantamine. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2003. Vascular dementia and diffuse Lewy body dementia are also associated with significant defects in cholinergic function. Galantamine is about 90% bioavailable and displays linear pharmacokinetics. It has a relatively large volume of distribution and low protein binding. Metabolism is primarily through the cytochrome P450 system, specifically the CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 isoenzymes.

Population pharmacokinetic modelling with galantamine has shown that the variables affecting clearance are age, sex, and bodyweight. Model simulations demonstrate the importance of a slower dose-escalation schedule in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. In several large trials, galantamine has been shown to be well tolerated, with most adverse events being mild-to-moderate and gastrointestinal in nature. Other products contain Vitamin B5 - 100 mg (from calcium pantothenate) Galantamine hydrobromide extract - 4 mg (Galanthus nivalis) Choline 200 mg (from choline dihydrogen citrate) Snowdrop - Galanthus - Overview - Encyclopedia of Life Ecology Distribution Galanthus nivalis is the best-known and most widespread representative of the genus Galanthus. It is native to a large area of Europe, stretching from the Pyrenees in the west, through France and Germany to Poland in the north, Italy, Northern Greece, Ukraine, and European Turkey. It has been introduced and is widely naturalised elsewhere.

[2] Although it is often thought of as a British native wild flower, or to have been brought to the British Isles by the Romans, it was probably introduced around the early sixteenth century and is currently not a protected species in the UK. [3] Most other Galanthus species are from the eastern Mediterranean, though several are found in southern Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. [4] Galanthus fosteri comes from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and maybe Israel. [5] Conservation Some snowdrop species are threatened in their wild habitats, and in most countries it is now illegal to collect bulbs from the wild. Under CITES regulations, international trade in any quantity of Galanthus, whether bulbs, live plants or even dead ones, is illegal without a CITES permit. This applies to hybrids and named cultivars as well as species. CITES does, however, allow a limited trade in wild-collected bulbs of just three species (G. nivalis, G, elwesii and G. woronowii) from Turkey and Georgia. [6] Description Common snowdrop All species of Galanthus are perennial, herbaceous plants which grow from bulbs .

Each bulb generally produces just two or three linear leaves and an erect, leafless scape (flowering stalk), which bears at the top a pair of bract-like spathe valves joined by a papery membrane. From between them emerges a solitary, pendulous, bell-shaped white flower, held on a slender pedicel . The flower has no petals: it consists of six tepals , the outer three being larger and more convex than the inner series. The six anthers open by pores or short slits. The ovary is three-celled, ripening into a three-celled capsule. Each whitish seed has a small, fleshy tail (elaiosome) containing substances attractive to ants which distribute the seeds. [7] The leaves die back a few weeks after the flowers have faded. The inner flower segments are usually marked with a green, or greenish-yellow, bridge-shaped mark over the small " sinus " (notch) at the tip of each tepal. An important feature which helps to distinguish between species (and to help to determine the parentage of hybrids) is their " vernation " (the arrangement of the emerging leaves relative to each other).

This can be "applanate", "supervolute" or "explicative". In applanate vernation the two leaf blades are pressed flat to each other within the bud and as they emerge; explicative leaves are also pressed flat against each other, but the edges of the leaves are folded back or sometimes rolled; in supervolute plants one leaf is tightly clasped around the other within the bud and generally remains at the point where the leaves emerge from the soil. [8] Cultivation and uses Propagation Propagation is by offset bulbs, either by careful division of clumps in full growth ("in the green"), or removed when the plants are dormant, immediately after the leaves have withered; or by seeds sown either when ripe, or in spring. Professional growers and keen amateurs also use such methods as " twin-scaling " to increase the stock of choice cultivars quickly. Active substances It was suggested by Duvoisin in 1983 that the mysterious magical herb moly that appears in Homer 's Odyssey is actually snowdrop. An active substance in snowdrop is called galantamine , which, as anticholinesterase , could have acted as an antidote to Circe 's poisons.

[9] Galantamine (or galanthamine) can be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease , though it is not a cure; the substance also occurs naturally in daffodils and other narcissi . Snowdrop gardens Celebrated as a sign of spring, snowdrops can form impressive carpets of white in areas where they are native or have been naturalised. These displays may attract large numbers of sightseers. Several gardens open specially in February for visitors to admire the flowers. Sixty gardens took part in Scotland's first Snowdrop Festival (1 Feb–11 March 2007). [10] Several gardens in England open during snowdrop season for the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) (see their website for up-to-date details). There are a number of snowdrop gardens in England , Scotland , and Ireland . [11] England Altamont Garden,Tullow,County Carlow [1] [2] Subdivisions Species Notable species include: Common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis , grows to around 7–15 cm tall, flowering between January and April in the northern temperate zone (January–May in the wild).

Applanate vernation [13] Crimean snowdrop, Galanthus plicatus, 30 cm tall, flowering January/March, white flowers, with broad leaves folded back at the edges (explicative vernation) Giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii, a native of the Levant , 23 cm tall, flowering January/February, with large flowers, the three inner segments of which often have a much larger and more conspicuous green blotch (or blotches) than the more common kinds; supervolute vernation Galanthus reginae-olgae, from Greece and Sicily , is quite similar in appearance to G. nivalis, but flowers in autumn before the leaves appear. The leaves, which appear in the spring, have a characteristic white stripe on their upper side; applanate vernation subsp. vernalis, from Sicily, northern Greece and the south of former Yugoslavia, blooms at the end of the winter with developed young leaves and is thus easily confused with G. nivalis.

Galanthus reginae-olgae close-up of the leaves Cultivars There are numerous single- and double-flowered cultivars of Galanthus nivalis , and also of several other Galanthus species, particularly G. plicatus and G. elwesii. There are also many hybrids between these and other species (there are more than 500 cultivars described in Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw's book, plus lists of many cultivars that have now been lost, and others not seen by the authors). They differ particularly in the size, shape and markings of the flower, the period of flowering, and other characteristics, mainly of interest to the keen (even fanatical) snowdrop collectors, known as " galanthophiles ", who hold meetings where the scarcer cultivars change hands. [14] Double-flowered cultivars and forms, such as the extremely common Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno', may be less attractive to some people but they can have greater visual impact in a garden setting.

A list of Irish cultivars can be found here [3] Similar genera Snowdrops are sometimes confused with their relatives, snowflakes, Leucojum and Acis species. Leucojums are much larger and flower in spring (or early summer, depending on the species), with all six tepals in the flower being the same size, though it should be noted that some "poculiform" (goblet- or cup-shaped) Galanthus can have inner segments similar in shape and length to the outer ones. Gallery Snowdrops in the snow Media William Wordsworth , the Two-Part Ballad: "I began / My story early, feeling, as I fear, / The weakness of a human love for days / Disowned by memory, ere the birth of spring / Planting my snowdrops among winter snows" (ll. 445-59). Snowdrops feature in Seamus Heaney 's poem Mid-term Break in the context of mourning a dead infant [15] "Snowdrop" is the subtitle of P. I. Tchaikovsky 's piano piece, "April," in the piano cycle " The Seasons ".

The cycle contains 12 pieces, each is given the name of the month and a characteristic subtitle. In Neil Gaiman 's novel Stardust , Dunstan Thorn and subsequently his son Tristran carry a glass snowdrop that chimes when held. The flower has a very small, but pivotal role in the story In the anime film Twelve Months (Sekai meisaku dowa mori wa ikiteiru in Japan), a greedy queen decrees that a basket of gold coins shall be rewarded to anyone who can bring her galanthus flowers in the dead of winter. A young girl named Anya is sent out during a snow storm by her cruel stepmother and find the spirits of the 12 months of the year, who take pity on her and not only save her from freezing to death, but make it possible for her to gather the flowers even in winter In the manga " Snow Drop " by Choi kyung-ah , Snow Drop was the name of the book that Yo So-Na's mother wrote. The name of the four characters in the manga was taken from that book: So-na, Hae-gi, Ko-mo, Gae-Ri.

In this manga, snowdrop represented hope and warmth, because of the legend it carries in Korea "Snowdrops" was the nickname that the British people gave during the Second World War to the military police of the United States Army (who were stationed in the UK preparatory to the invasion of the continent) because they wore a white helmet, gloves, gaiters, and Sam Browne belt against their olive drab uniform In Jacqueline Carey 's series of novels set in Terre d'Ange, snowdrops are distilled to create a beverage called joie that is drunk on the Longest Night (New Year's Eve). In Naamah's Kiss , one of the characters makes a tonic from snowdrops that acts as an aphrodisiac, and the protagonist Moirin takes snowdrops from Terre d'Ange (based on France) and plants them in a mountain in Ch'in (based on China). The short story The Snowdrop by Hans Christian Andersen follows the fate of a snowdrop from a bulb striving towards the light to a picked flower placed in a book of poetry. The poet, Ambrosius Stub , is compared to the flower—as a summer gauk (fool), born before his time.

In the anime and manga series, "Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica," the White Series' protagonist is named "Snow Drop" See also

Question: How is Galanthus nivalis better known?
Answer: SNOWDROP