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Snowdrops

©Les Binns

Snowdrops

©Katrina Martin/2020VISION

Snowdrops

©Katrina Martin/2020VISION

Snowdrop

Enw gwyddonol: Galanthus nivalis
Perhaps the first sign that spring is just around the corner is the snowdrop poking its way through the frosted soil of a woodland, churchyard or garden. From January, look for its famous nodding, white flowers.

Species information

Category

Ystadegau

Height: up to 25cm

Statws cadwraethol

Listed as Near Threatened on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Pryd i'w gweld

January to March

Ynghylch

The snowdrop is a familiar spring flower, coming into bloom in January and flowering until March. Despite its long history in the UK, however, it may not actually be native here; it is a native of damp woods and meadows on the continent, but was not recorded as growing wild in the UK until the late 18th century. Nevertheless, it has certainly become naturalised from garden escapees, and white snowdrop 'valleys' can now be seen across the country.

Sut i'w hadnabod

The snowdrop displays nodding, white flowers, each carried on a single stem. The narrow, grey-green leaves appear around the base of the stem. Snowdrop plants often form clumps.

Dosbarthiad

Widespread.

Habitats

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

In Yorkshire, it was customary for village maidens to gather bunches of Snowdrops and wear them as a symbol of their purity on February 2nd, which was Candlemas - the feast of the Virgin Mary.