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Giant Snowdrop

Galanthus elwesii

Description:

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. 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.

Habitat:

Snowy rocky meadow in mount Chortiatis (Thessaloniki, Greece).

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30 Comments (1–25)

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 7 years ago

Thank you triggsturner.

triggsturner
triggsturner 7 years ago

Great images Kostas. Does exactly as it says on the packet, a Snow Drop indeed! :) Congratulations on your second place.

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 7 years ago

Thank you Polilla.

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 7 years ago

Thank you Irena.

Irena Hrovat
Irena Hrovat 7 years ago

Beautiful!! Congratulations!

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 7 years ago

Thank you all for the honor, your comments and support!

Neil Ross
Neil Ross 7 years ago

Congratulations, Kostas. A wonderful spotting.

Congrats Kosta on the second place Kostas

Felix Fleck
Felix Fleck 7 years ago

Great shots! Congratulations.

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 7 years ago

Gorgeous Snowdrop. Congratulations on second Kostas!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 7 years ago

Congratulations Kostas, this beautiful snowdrop came second in the Plant category in our 2016 Best Photo contest!

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http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/2166...

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 8 years ago

Thank you Dr. Sherpa.

DrNamgyalT.Sherpa
DrNamgyalT.Sherpa 8 years ago

Congrats Costas for the SOTD! Slightly late though! Beautiful clear white. I've managed to take a similar one popping out of the snow, but it's a Primula!

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 8 years ago

Thank you Hema.

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 8 years ago

Thanks for your comment SunnyJ.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 8 years ago

lovely.....

sunnyjosef
sunnyjosef 8 years ago

Beautiful spotting.. Congrats KostasZontanos...

beaker98
beaker98 8 years ago

Very nice Kostas! Congratulations!

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 8 years ago

Thank you, Caleb.

CalebSteindel
CalebSteindel 8 years ago

Congrats! Beautiful spotting!

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 8 years ago

Thank you Mark.

KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 8 years ago

Thank you Daniel.

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 8 years ago

Congratulations. Beautiful sight.

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 8 years ago

Congratulations Kostas, this beautiful series of a Giant Snowdrop our Spotting of the Day!

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KostasZontanos
KostasZontanos 8 years ago

Thank you, Inês.

KostasZontanos
Spotted by
KostasZontanos

Αποκεντρωμένη Διοίκηση Μακεδονίας - Θράκης, Greece

Spotted on Feb 7, 2016
Submitted on Feb 8, 2016

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