Hyacinthoides italica, the Italian bluebell or Italian squill, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant belonging to the family Asparagaceae.Hyacinthoides italica (L.) Rothm., Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 53: 15 (1944). International Plant Names Index www.ipni.org, accessed 16 May 2021species: Italian Bluebell Hyacinthoides italica (L.) Rothm. Biolib, www.biolib.cz, accessed 16 May 2021
It is one of around 11 species in the genus Hyacinthoides, others including the common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) in northwestern Europe, and the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) further west in the Iberian Peninsula., search for "Hyacinthoides"
Description Hyacinthoides italica is up to tall. The stem is leafless. It has 3-6 basal lance-shaped leaves, wide and long. The inflorescence is a dense, conical or pyramid-like raceme with 5-30 bright violet-blue star-like flowers. The flowers have two narrow bracts. Flowering period extends from February to May.Hyacinthoides italica (L.) Rothm. {ID 4091} - Scilla della riviera Acta Plantarum, www.actaplantarum.org, accessed 16 May 2021Italiensk blåstjärna Hyacinthoides italica (L.) Rothm. Den virtuella floran linnaeus.nrm.se, accessed 16 May 2021PIGNATTI S., 1982. Flora d'Italia, Edagricole, Bologna
It is in some respects intermediate between the common and Spanish species in having slender leaves (as in H. non-scripta or even slenderer), but a dense raceme of flowers (as in H. hispanica; not sparse and one-sided as in H. non-scripta).
Hyacinthoides italica is used as an ornamental plant. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Distribution This species is native to the central Mediterranean region, in northwestern Italy, in southern France, and in northeastern Spain.Hyacinthoides italica (L.) Rothm. luirig.altervista.org, accessed 16 May 2021
Habitat It can be found in olive groves, in dry and stony meadows and in clearings of forests at an elevation up to above sea level.
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References Notes
General references Huxley, A. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening vol. 2: 604. Macmillan.