Editing Hyacinthoides non-scripta

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Common Bluebell).jpg
| genus = Hyacinthoides
| species = non-scripta
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Pierre Chouard|Chouard]] ''ex'' [[Werner Hugo Paul Rothmaler|Rothm.]]
| synonyms = 
* ''Hyacinthus non-scriptus'' <small>L.</small>
* ''Scilla festalis'' <small>Salisb.</small> ([[Nomen illegitimum|nom. illeg.]])
* ''Scilla nutans'' <small>Sm. ''in'' Sowerby & Smith</small> (nom. illeg.)
* ''Scilla non-scripta'' <small>(L.) Link & Hoffmanns.</small>
* ''Endymion nutans'' <small>Dumort.</small> (nom. illeg.)
* ''Agraphis nutans'' <small>Link.</small> (nom. illeg.)
* ''Endymion non-scriptus'' <small>(L.) Garcke</small>
* ''Hyacinthus cernuus'' <small>L.</small>
* ''Scilla cernua'' <small>(L.) Hoffmanns. & Link</small>
* ''Endymion cernuus'' <small>(L.) Dumort.</small>
| synonyms_ref = &nbsp;<ref name="Grundmann"/>
}}

'''''Hyacinthoides non-scripta''''' {{IPAc-en|ˌ|h|aɪ|ə|s|ɪ|n|ˈ|θ|ɔɪ|d|iː|z|_|n|ɒ|n|ˈ|s|k|r|ɪ|p|t|ə}} (formerly ''Endymion non-scriptus'' or ''Scilla non-scripta'') is a [[bulb]]ous [[perennial plant]] found in Atlantic areas from the north-western part of the Iberian Peninsula to the British Isles, and also frequently used as a [[garden plant]]. It is known in English as the '''common bluebell''' or simply '''bluebell''', a name which is used in Scotland to refer to the harebell, ''[[Campanula rotundifolia]]''. In spring, ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' produces a nodding, one-sided inflorescence of 5–12 tubular, sweet-scented violet–blue flowers, with strongly recurved [[tepal]]s, and 3–6 long, linear, basal leaves.

''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' is particularly associated with [[ancient woodland]] where it may dominate the understorey to produce carpets of violet–blue flowers in "[[bluebell wood]]s", but also occurs in more open habitats in western regions. It is protected under UK law, and in some other parts of its range. A related species, ''[[Hyacinthoides hispanica|H.&nbsp;hispanica]]'' has also been introduced to Britain and Ireland and [[hybrid (biology)|hybridises]] with ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' to produce intermediates known as [[Hyacinthoides × massartiana|''H.''&nbsp;×&nbsp;''massartiana'']].

==Taxonomy==
''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' was [[species description|first described]] by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in his 1753 work ''{{lang|la|[[Species Plantarum]]}}'', as a species in the genus ''[[Hyacinth (plant)|Hyacinthus]]''.<ref name=Ortiz2011/> The [[specific name (botany)|specific epithet]] ''{{lang|la|non-scripta}}'' means "unlettered" or "unmarked" and was intended to distinguish this plant from the classical hyacinth of [[Greek mythology]]. This mythical flower, which was almost certainly not the modern hyacinth,<ref>{{cite book |author=J. E. Raven |year=2000 |title=Plants and Plant Lore in Ancient Greece |location=Oxford |publisher=Leopard Head Press |isbn=978-0-904920-40-6 |pages=26–27}}</ref> sprang up from the blood of the dying prince [[Hyacinth (mythology)|Hyacinthus]]. His lover, the god [[Apollo]], shed tears that marked the new flower's petals with the letters "AIAI" ("alas") as a sign of his grief.<ref name="Mabey">{{cite book |author=Richard Mabey |year=1996 |title=Flora Britannica |publisher=[[Sinclair-Stevenson]] |location=London |pages=412–416 |isbn=978-1-85619-377-1|author-link=Richard Mabey }}</ref>

In 1803, [[Johann Centurius von Hoffmannsegg]] and [[Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link]] transferred the species to the genus ''[[Scilla]]'', and in 1849 [[Christian August Friedrich Garcke]] transferred it to the genus ''Endymion'' (now a synonym of ''Hyacinthoides''); it is still widely known as "''Scilla non-scripta''" or "''Endymion non-scriptus''".<ref>{{cite journal |author=Martyn Rix |year=2004 |title=Plate 481. ''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' Hyacinthaceae |journal=[[Curtis's Botanical Magazine]] |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=20–25 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8748.2004.00406.x}}</ref> In 1934, [[Pierre Chouard]] transferred the species to its current placement in the genus ''[[Hyacinthoides]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Pierre Chouard |year=1934 |title=Les noms linnéens des Scilla et des Endymion et leur véritable signification |language=fr |trans-title=The Linnaean names in ''Scilla'' and ''Endymion'' and their true identities |journal=[[Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France]] |volume=81 |issue=4 |pages=620–630 |url=http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/Imagenes/P0055_81/P0055_81_0671.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] excerpt |doi=10.1080/00378941.1934.10834006 |bibcode=1934BSBF...81..620C |access-date=2012-03-28 |archive-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809160806/http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/Imagenes/P0055_81/P0055_81_0671.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Scilla'' was the original Greek name for the sea squill, ''[[Drimia maritima]]''; [[Endymion (mythology)|Endymion]] is a character from [[Greek mythology]]; ''Hyacinthoides'' means "like a hyacinth".<ref>{{cite book |author=Allen J. Coombes |year=1985 |title=The Collingridge Dictionary of Plant Names |publisher=Collingridge |isbn=978-0-600-35770-4}}</ref>

The [[type species]] of ''Hyacinthoides'' is ''H.&nbsp;hispanica'', while that of ''Endymion'' is "''Scilla nutans''", described by [[James Edward Smith (botanist)|James Edward Smith]] in ''[[English Botany]]'' in 1797, but now treated as a [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] of ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta''.<ref name="Grundmann"/> Smith had argued that ''{{lang|la|[[:wikt:nutans|nutans]]}}'' ("nodding") is a more fitting epithet than ''{{lang|la|non-scriptus}}'', which makes no sense once separated from ''Hyacinthus'', but the [[International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants]] requires the oldest name to be used, regardless of meaning.<ref name="Grundmann"/>

[[Common name]]s for ''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' include bluebell,<ref name="Stace"/> common bluebell, English bluebell, British bluebell,<ref name="NHM"/> wild hyacinth, wood bell, fairy flower and bell bottle.<ref name="Kew"/> In Scotland, the term "bluebell" is used for the harebell, ''[[Campanula rotundifolia]]''.<ref name="Mabey"/>

===Related species===
''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' forms a [[clade]] with three other species – ''[[Hyacinthoides hispanica|H.&nbsp;hispanica]]'', ''[[Hyacinthoides paivae|H.&nbsp;paivae]]'' and ''[[Hyacinthoides cedretorum|H.&nbsp;cedretorum]]'' – centred on the [[Iberian Peninsula]].<ref name="Grundmann"/> ''H.&nbsp;paivae'' is restricted to a small area of north-western Iberia ([[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] and neighbouring parts of Portugal), while ''H.&nbsp;cedretorum'' is found in mountainous areas of western [[North Africa]] ([[Morocco]] and [[Algeria]]).<ref name="Grundmann"/> Within Iberia, ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' and ''H.&nbsp;hispanica'' are geographically separated by the [[Duero]] river.<ref name="Grundmann"/> The genus also contains seven further species, mostly distributed further east in the [[Mediterranean Basin]].<ref name="Grundmann"/>

==Description==
{{Multiple image
|header=Comparison of ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' and ''H.&nbsp;hispanica''
|direction=horizontal
|align=left
|width=140
|image1=Hyacinthoides in Narrow Wood, Wadborough - geograph.org.uk - 781186.jpg
|caption1=''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' has dark flowers in one-sided, nodding racemes, with strongly recurved petals and white pollen.
|image2=Hyacinthoides hispanica pm.jpg
|caption2=''H.&nbsp;hispanica'' has paler flowers produced on all sides of the upright stem, less recurved petals and blue pollen.
}}
''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' is a [[perennial plant]] that grows from a [[bulb]].<ref name="Stace">{{cite book |author=Clive A. Stace |year=2010 |title=New Flora of the British Isles |edition=3rd |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-521-70772-5 |chapter=''Hyacinthoides'' Heist. ''ex'' Fabr. (''Endymion'' Dumort.) – bluebells |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newflorabritishi00stac/page/n955 920]–921|author-link=Clive A. Stace }}</ref> It produces 3–6 linear leaves, all growing from the base of the plant, and each {{convert|7|-|16|mm}} wide.<ref name="Poland">{{cite book |author1=John Poland |author2=Eric J. Clement |year=2009 |title=The Vegetative Key to the British Flora |publisher=[[Botanical Society of the British Isles]] |page=140 |isbn=978-0-9560144-0-5}}</ref> An [[inflorescence]] of 5–12 (exceptionally 3–32) flowers is borne on a stem up to {{convert|500|mm|abbr=on}} tall, which droops towards the tip;<ref name=Ortiz2011/> the flowers are arranged in a 1-sided nodding [[raceme]].<ref name="Stace"/> Each flower is {{convert|14|-|20|mm|abbr=on}} long, with two bracts at the base, and the six [[tepal]]s are strongly recurved at their tips.<ref name="Stace"/> The tepals are violet–blue.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Arthur Roy Clapham|A. R. Clapham]], [[Tom Tutin|T. G. Tutin]] & [[E. F. Warburg]] |year=1981 |title=Excursion Flora of the British Isles |edition=3rd |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-521-23290-6 |chapter=Liliaceae |pages=388–394}}</ref> The three [[stamen]]s in the outer whorl are fused to the [[perianth]] for more than 75% of their length, and bear cream-coloured [[pollen]].<ref name="Stace"/> The flowers are strongly and sweetly scented.<ref name="Stace"/> The seeds are black, and germinate on the soil surface.<ref name="Thomas">{{cite book |author1=Peter Thomas |author2=John R. Packham |year=2007 |title=Ecology of Woodlands and Forests: Description, Dynamics and Diversity |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-83452-0}}</ref>

The bulbs produce contractile roots; when these roots contract, they draw the bulbs down into deeper layers of the soil where there is greater moisture, reaching depths of {{convert|10|-|12|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Thomas"/> This may explain the absence of ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' from some thin soils over chalk in [[South East England]], since the bulbs are unable to penetrate into sufficiently deep soils.<ref name="Thomas"/>

''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' differs from ''[[Hyacinthoides hispanica|H.&nbsp;hispanica]]'', which occurs as an introduced species in Britain and Ireland, in a number of ways. ''H.&nbsp;hispanica'' has paler flowers which are borne in radially symmetrical racemes; their tepals are less recurved, and are only faintly scented.<ref name="Stace"/> The outer stamens are fused with the tepals for less than 75% of their length, and the anthers are the same colour as the tepals.<ref name="Stace"/> These two species are thought to have diverged 8000 years ago.<ref name="Grundmann">{{cite journal |author1=Michael Grundmann |author2=Fred J. Rumsey |author3=Stephen W. Ansell |author4=Stephen J. Russell |author5=Sarah C. Darwin |author6=Johannes C. Vogel |author7=Mark Spencer |author8=Jane Squirrell |author9=Peter M. Hollingsworth |author10=Santiago Ortiz |author11=Harald Schneider |year=2010 |title=Phylogeny and taxonomy of the bluebell genus ''Hyacinthoides'', Asparagaceae &#91;Hyacinthaceae&#93; |journal=[[Taxon (journal)|Taxon]] |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=68–82 |doi=10.1002/tax.591008 }}</ref> The two species [[hybrid (biology)|hybridise]] readily to produce fertile offspring known as [[Hyacinthoides × massartiana|''Hyacinthoides'' × ''massartiana'']]; the hybrids are intermediate between the parental species, forming a spectrum of variation which connects the two.<ref name="Stace"/>

==Distribution and ecology==
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| header = Bluebell habitats
| width = 330
| image1 = Pryor's Wood Bluebells 2017-04-22-7.jpg
| caption1 = Bluebells in [[Pryor's Wood]], Hertfordshire 
| image2 = Ulbhabluebells.jpg
| caption2 = In the west of its range, ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' lives in open habitats, here on [[Ulva]] in the [[Hebrides]], Scotland 
}}

''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' is native to the western parts of Atlantic Europe, from north-western [[Spain]] and north-western [[Portugal]], to the [[Netherlands]], [[Great Britain]], and [[Ireland]].<ref name=Ortiz2011>{{cite book |author=S. Ortiz |year=2011 |chapter=Hyacinthoides Heist. ex Fabr. |title=Flora Iberica, Volume 20: Liliaceae - Agavaceae| isbn=9788400097455|url=http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/imprenta/tomoXX/20_183_00_Hyacinthoides.pdf|publisher=Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |location=Spain }}</ref> It is found in [[Belgium]], Great Britain, [[France]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], Portugal, the Netherlands and Spain, and also occurs as a naturalized species in [[Germany]], [[Italy]] and [[Romania]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://193.62.154.38/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Hyacinthoides&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= |work=[[Flora Europaea]] |title=''Hyacinthoides'' |access-date=March 28, 2012 |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh]] |archive-date=February 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215202923/http://193.62.154.38/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Hyacinthoides&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= |url-status=dead }}</ref> It has also been introduced (and can be highly invasive) into various parts of North America, in both the [[Pacific Northwest]] ([[British Columbia]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Oregon]]), the Great Lakes region ([[Ontario]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Ohio]] and [[Pennsylvania]]) and other parts of the United States ([[the Virginias]], [[Kentucky]] and [[Indiana]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HYNO |title=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (L.) Chouard ex Rothm., English bluebell |work=PLANTS Profile |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> it has been introduced as well to [[New Zealand]].

Despite the wide distribution of ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'', it reaches its greatest densities in Britain and Ireland,<ref name="NHM">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/endangered-species/hyacinthoides-non-scripta/distribution-ecology/index.html |title=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (British bluebell) > Distribution and ecology |publisher=[[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] |author=Fred Rumsey |work=Species of the day |access-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221223743/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/endangered-species/hyacinthoides-non-scripta/distribution-ecology/index.html |archive-date=February 21, 2012}}</ref> where "[[bluebell wood]]s" (woodland with the understory dominated by ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' in spring) are a familiar sight. ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' is found throughout Britain and Ireland, with the exception of the northern [[Outer Hebrides]] ([[Lewis and Harris]]), [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]],<ref name="Stace"/> and it is estimated that 25%–50% of all common bluebells may be found in Britain and Ireland.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Deborah D. Kohn |author2=Philip E. Hulme |author3=Peter M. Hollingsworth |author4=Adam Butler |year=2009 |title=Are native bluebells (''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'') at risk from alien congenerics? Evidence from distributions and co-occurrence in Scotland |journal=[[Biological Conservation (journal)|Biological Conservation]] |volume=142 |issue=1 |pages=61–74 |doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2008.09.030 |bibcode=2009BCons.142...61K |url=http://labs.eeb.utoronto.ca/barrett/pdf/Kohn_ETAL2009.pdf |access-date=2012-03-24 |archive-date=2020-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114102818/http://labs.eeb.utoronto.ca/barrett/pdf/Kohn_ETAL2009.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bluebells are a species of deciduous woodland over much of their range, flowering and leafing early before the canopy closes in late spring. They may also be found growing under [[Pteridium aquilinum|bracken]] or [[Japanese knotweed]], perennial plants which also form stands with a dense summer canopy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/sheffield/biodiversity/species/facts/bluebell.html |title=Bluebells |publisher=Sheffield Wildlife Trust |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724012132/http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/sheffield/biodiversity/species/facts/bluebell.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> They are most successful on slightly acid soils; the same niche in alkaline conditions may be occupied by other species such as ''[[Mercurialis perennis]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.field-studies-council.org/urbaneco/urbaneco/woodland/shading.htm |publisher=[[Field Studies Council]] |year=2009 |title=Woodland plants |access-date=April 22, 2012 |archive-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626231158/http://www.field-studies-council.org/urbaneco/urbaneco/woodland/shading.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a species adapted to woodlands, the young shoots are able to penetrate through a thick layer of [[leaf litter]],<ref>{{cite book |author=J. R. Packham |year=1992 |title=Functional Ecology of Woodlands and Forests |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] |isbn=978-0-412-43950-6 |chapter=Soils, climate and zonation |pages=97–140 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9n0x5AZY2XUC&pg=PA133}}</ref> and bluebells are often used as an [[indicator species]] to identify [[ancient woodland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/forests/5245599/Bluebells-hold-clue-to-ancient-forests.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514083651/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/forests/5245599/Bluebells-hold-clue-to-ancient-forests.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2009 |title=Bluebells hold clue to ancient forests |author=Jack Watkins |newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph]] |date=April 30, 2009 |access-date=March 27, 2012}}</ref> Bluebells are also frequently found in hedgerows, and in the west of their range they can be found growing in open habitats, including coastal meadows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk/action-plans/listing.php?id=66 |title=Bluebell (''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'') |work=Species Action Plans |publisher=Cheshire Regional Biodiversity Partnership |access-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408052212/http://www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk/action-plans/listing.php?id=66 |archive-date=April 8, 2012 }}</ref> Bluebell flowers are rich in [[pollen]] and [[nectar]], and are chiefly pollinated by [[bumblebee]]s, although they are also visited by various other insects.<ref name="Morris">{{cite book |author1=[[Jill, Duchess of Hamilton]] |author2=Penny Hart |author3=John Simmons |year=2006 |title=The Gardens of William Morris |publisher=Frances Lincoln |isbn=978-0-7112-2609-8 |chapter=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'', bluebell |page=131 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAJqeMhGvIMC&pg=PT131}}</ref> They are a host species for the parasitic fungus ''[[Uromyces muscari]]'', which causes bluebell rust.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Stefan Buczacki |author2=Keith Harris |year=1998 |title=Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants |edition=2nd |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-00-220063-9 |chapter=Diseases |page=389}}</ref> The ability of ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' to take up [[phosphorus]] from the soil is greatly enhanced by the presence of [[arbuscular mycorrhiza]]e in its roots.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Michael Begon |author2=Colin R. Townsend |author3=John L. Harper |year=2006 |title=Ecology: from Individuals to Ecosystems |edition=4th |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |isbn=978-1-4051-1117-1 |chapter=Symbiosis and mutualism |pages=381–409 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uGAqEp4AsfcC&pg=PA399}}</ref>

==Protection==
''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' is not protected under [[international law]], such as [[CITES]] or the EU [[Habitats Directive]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/countryside/sites/your.caerphilly.gov.uk.countryside/files/pdf/actionplan/vol2-10-bluebell.pdf |title=Bluebell ''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' species action plan |publisher=[[Caerphilly County Borough Council]] |access-date=March 29, 2012}}</ref>

In the [[United Kingdom]], ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' is a protected species under the [[Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981]]. Landowners are prohibited from removing common bluebells on their land for sale and it is a criminal offence to remove the bulbs of wild common bluebells.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croxteth.liverpool.gov.uk/news/2007/blue.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805050351/http://www.croxteth.liverpool.gov.uk/news/2007/blue.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-05 |title=Bluebells at Croxteth |publisher=[[Liverpool City Council]] |date=April 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2012 }}</ref> This legislation was strengthened in 1998 under Schedule 8 of the Act making any trade in wild common bluebell bulbs or seeds an offence, punishable by fines of up to £5,000 per bulb.<ref name="Kew">{{cite web |url=http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Hyacinthoides-non-scripta.htm |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |title=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (bluebell) |author1=Steve Davis |author2=Anna Trias-Blasi |access-date=March 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323131916/http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Hyacinthoides-non-scripta.htm |archive-date=March 23, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="BBC240807">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6962312.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Men fined for bluebell bulbs sale |date=August 24, 2007 |access-date=July 14, 2012}}</ref> The species is not protected in the [[Isle of Man]] or the [[Republic of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_countryside_act.htm |title=Republic of Ireland |publisher=[[Botanical Society of the British Isles]] |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115075846/https://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_countryside_act.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In France, ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' is largely confined to the northern half of the country.<ref name="INPN">{{cite web |url=http://inpn.mnhn.fr/espece/cd_nom/103057 |title=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (L.) Chouard ex Rothm., 1944: Jacinthe sauvage, Jacinthe des bois (Français) |work=Inventaire national du Patrimoine naturel |language=fr |publisher=[[Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle]] |access-date=March 28, 2012}}</ref> It is not legally protected at the national level, but it is protected in many of the ''{{lang|fr|[[Departments of France|départements]]}}'' towards the edge of its range ([[Corrèze]], [[Loiret]], [[Gironde]], [[Lot-et-Garonne]], [[Dordogne]], [[Cher (department)|Cher]], [[Eure-et-Loir]], [[Indre-et-Loire]] and [[Loir-et-Cher]]).<ref name="INPN"/> In [[Wallonia]], ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' is protected under ''{{lang|fr|Annexe VII}}'' of the ''{{lang|fr|Loi sur la conservation de la nature}}''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://observatoire.biodiversite.wallonie.be/especes/flore/LR2010/fiche2.aspx?id=458 |title=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (L.) Chouard ex Rothm., jacinthe des bois |access-date=April 6, 2012 |work=La biodiversité en Wallonie |language=fr}}</ref>

==Uses==
[[File:Geopende zaaddoos van een wilde hyacint 24-07-2022. (d.j.b).jpg|thumb|left|200px|Opened seed pod with seeds inside]]
Bluebells have had numerous uses over the centuries. There is little evidence of widespread medicinal use, but the bulbs contain muselage and inulin, a starchy substance which was used as a glue for bookbinding. The Elizabethans also used the starch from the bluebell bulb to stiffen the fabrics of ruffs and collars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facts about bluebells {{!}} Nature |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature/trees-plants/a-guide-to-bluebells-in-the-uk |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=National Trust |language=en}}</ref>

Bluebells are widely planted as [[garden plant]]s, either among trees or in [[herbaceous border]]s.<ref name="Morris" /> They flower at the same time as [[hyacinth (plant)|hyacinths]], ''[[Narcissus (plant)|Narcissus]]'' and some [[tulip]]s.<ref name="Beresford">{{cite book |author=Diana Beresford-Kroeger |year=2004 |title=A Garden for Life: the Natural Approach to Designing, Planting, and Maintaining a North Temperate Garden |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=978-0-472-03012-5 |chapter=''Hyacinthoides'' (''Scilla''), bluebells |page=181 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XFJ2OnvqAacC&pg=PA181|author-link=Diana Beresford-Kroeger }}</ref> They produce seed and [[vegetative reproduction|reproduce vegetatively]] using bulb offsets, so can spread rapidly, and may need to be controlled as [[weed]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/bluebells-as-weeds |title=Bluebells as weeds |publisher=[[Royal Horticultural Society]] |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>

In common with other members of their genus, bluebells - particularly their bulbs - are normally considered to be toxic. Bluebells synthesise a wide range of chemicals with potential medicinal properties: they contain at least 15 biologically active compounds that may provide them with protection against insects and animals. Certain extracts – water-soluble [[pyrrolidine]] [[alkaloids]] – are similar to compounds tested for use in combating HIV and cancer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/47711.stm |title=Bluebells could help fight cancer |work=[[BBC News]] |date=January 15, 1998 |access-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Michael Kent |title=Advanced Biology |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2000 |page=334 |isbn=978-0-19-914195-1}}</ref> The bulbs of bluebells are used in [[folk medicine]] as a remedy for [[leucorrhoea]], and as a [[diuretic]] or [[styptic]],<ref name="PFAF">{{cite web |url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hyacinthoides+nonscripta |title=''Hyacinthoides nonscripta'' - (L.) Chouard. ex Rothm. |work=Plants for a Future |access-date=March 27, 2012}}</ref> while the sap can be used as an [[adhesive]].<ref name="Beresford"/><ref name="PFAF"/>

== In culture ==
The bluebell may be regarded as the United Kingdom's "favourite flower". When the wild plant charity [[Plantlife]] organised a survey in 2004 to find a favourite flower for each county in the United Kingdom, it decided to ban voters from choosing the bluebell because it had been by far the top choice in an earlier poll for the nation's favourite flower.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fans pick the flowers that have grown on them |author=Paul Brown |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=5 May 2004 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/may/05/environment.environment2}}</ref> A stylised bluebell is used as the [[logo]] for the [[Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Gabriel E. Hemery |year=2005 |title=A new image for the society |journal=BSBI News |publisher=[[Botanical Society of the British Isles]] |volume=100 |pages=5–6 |url=http://archive.bsbi.org.uk/BSBINews100.pdf }}</ref>

[[Dusting Bluebells (rhyme)|In and Out the Dusting Bluebells]], also known as In and Out the Dusty Bluebells, is a children's [[playground song]] and dance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dusting Bluebells|url=https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/dusting-bluebells|access-date=2021-04-28|website=The British Library|archive-date=2020-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201115724/https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/dusting-bluebells|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hyacinthoides non-scripta}}
*[https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/bluebell Plantlife description: Bluebell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307145505/https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/bluebell |date=2023-03-07 }} 
*[https://www.kew.org/plants/bluebell Kew plant profile: ''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (bluebell)]
*{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17597489 |title=Bluebells: the survival battle of Britain's native bluebells |author=Hannah Briggs |work=[[BBC News]] |date=April 11, 2012}}

{{Good article}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q164013}}

[[Category:Hyacinthoides|nonscripta]]
[[Category:Ephemeral plants]]
[[Category:Flora of Belgium]]
[[Category:Flora of Ireland]]
[[Category:Flora of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Flora of Portugal]]
[[Category:Flora of Spain]]
[[Category:Flora of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Europe]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]