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English bluebell

Hyacinthoides non-scripta


Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Hyacinthoides
Species: non-scripta
Binomial name
Hyacinthoides non-scripta

The English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is a spring-flowering tuberous, perennial. The traditional name of "non-script" was intended to distinguish this plant from the classical hyacinth. The classical hyacinth was a flower described in greek mythology that sprang from the blood of the dying prince Hyacinthus. As a mark of his grief on the death of the prince, Apollo inscribed the letters "AIAI".

In spring, many British woods are covered by dense carpets of this flower; these are commonly referred to as "bluebell woods"