Grape Hyacinth, Blue Bottle, Cipollini, Edible Muscari, Grape Hyacinth

Grape Hyacinth is a perennial bulbous plant which is scientifically called Muscari neglectum with other common names such as Blue Bottle, Common Grape Hyacinth, Cipollini, Edible Muscari, Grape Hyacinth, Hairy Muscari, Musk Hyacinth, Muscari, Nutmeg Hyacinth, Starch Hyacinth, Southern Grape Hyacinth, Tufted Grape Hyacinth and Starch grape hyacinth. This perennial bulbous plant is native to Eurasia. It produces dense spikes which are commonly blue and urn shaped flowers. Sometimes it is grown as an ornamental plant such as spring bulb in temperate climates. It belongs to the lily family Liliaceae. Its common name refers to the clusters of small and bell shaped blue to purple flowers which resembles the clusters of grapes. The scientific term Muscari is derived from the Greek word musk referring to the mildly sweet fragrance produced by the plant’s flowers.

Facts of Grape Hyacinth

Name Grape Hyacinth
Scientific Name Muscari neglectum
Native It is inherent to Southwestern Asia and the Mediterranean region.
Common/English Name Blue Bottle, Common Grape Hyacinth, Cipollini, Edible Muscari, Grape Hyacinth, Hairy Muscari, Musk Hyacinth, Muscari, Nutmeg Hyacinth, Starch Hyacinth, Southern Grape Hyacinth, Tufted Grape Hyacinth, Starch grape hyacinth
Name in Other Languages Finnish: Terttuhelmililja;
French: Muscari À Grappe, Muscari Négligé, Muscari En Grappe, Muscari Oublié, Ail Des Chiens;
German: Weinbergs-Traubenhyazinthe, Weinbergs-Träubel, Übersehene Traubenhyazinthe;
Hungarian: Fürtös Gyöngyike;
Italian: Muscari Ignorato, Lampascione;
Portuguese: Enfuste;
Spanish: Agüelicos, Azulete, Ajo De Perro, Cebolla De Lagarto, Cebollica De Milano, Chapín De Reina,Cebollita De Milano,
Clavos De Dios, Frailes, Espartillo, Gatos, Guitarrillos, Hierbas De Los Amores, Hierba Del Querer, Jacinto Racimosa,Jacinto,
Jacinto Racimoso, Jacintos, Jacinto Silvestre, Macandil, Lloricas, Moras, Moro, Nazarenos, Nazareno, Pajarillos, Nazarones, Penitents;
Turkish: Dağ Sümbülü;
Welsh: Clychau Dulas;
Catalan: All de bruixa, Calabruixa petita;
Denmark: Liden perlehyacint
Plant Growth Habit Herbaceous plant
Soil Well-drained, moderately moist sandy
Plant Size 25 cm
Leaves Linear to lanceolate, 5 to 35 cm long, 0.25 to 0.75 cm wide
Flowering Season Early spring to mid-summer
Flower Purple to blue, urn-shaped
Fruit shape & size Broadly ovate to orbicular, 5-9 × 8-10 mm

 

Grape Hyacinth Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Muscari neglectum

Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom Streptophyta (Land plants)
Superdivision Embryophyta
Division Tracheophyta  (Vascular plants, tracheophytes)
Class Magnoliopsida
Subclass Liliidae
Order Asparagales
Family Asparagaceae
Genus Muscari Mill. (Grapehyacinth, grape hyacinth)
Species Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten. (Starch grape hyacinth, starch grapehyacinth)
Synonyms
  • Botryanthus atlanticus (Boiss. & Reut.) Nyman
  • Botryanthus breviscapus Tod.
  • Botryanthus granatensis (Freyn) Nyman
  • Botryanthus lelievrii var. strangwaysii (Ten.) Nyman
  • Botryanthus mandraliscae Lojac.
  • Botryanthus mordoanus (Heldr.) Nyman

Plant

The plant is herbaceous which grows to 25 cm with 2-3 by 2-2.5 cm ovoid bulbs covered with dark brown tunic. Leaves are linear to lanceolate measuring 5 to 35 cm long and 0.25 to 0.75 cm wide. Scapes are 25 cm long. Flowers are blue to purplish on 1 to 5 mm nodding pedicles. Sterile flowers are smaller and paler in comparison to fertile ones. Perianth tube is ovoid to oblong-urceolate or cylindric measuring 3 to 7 mm. The plant bears capsule as a fruit which is broadly ovate to orbicular, 5-9 × 8-10 mm having tip rounded or shortly emarginated.

How to Eat         

  • The blue flower buds and bulbs are used in Mediterranean cuisine.
  • Flower buds and flowers are pickled in vinegar.

 


References

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