Leucojum aestivum

Botanical Description

Leucojum aestivum is a perennial plant growing from a bulb around 20 - 40mm in diameter; it produces a cluster of grass-like leaves and a flowering stem around 30 - 60cm tall[ 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. , 2250 Title Plant Sources of Galanthamine: Phytochemical and Biotechnological Aspects Publication Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 23:2, 1170-1176, 2009 Author Berkov S. et al Website https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2009.10817633 Publisher Year 2009 ISBN 1310-2818 Description ]. The plant can spread by bulb division to form large clumps[ 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. ]. The plant is possibly harvested from the wild for local use as a food and is harvested in large quantities for medicinal use. This is one of several species that are cultivated on a commercial scale for the extraction of the alkaloid 'galantamine', a substance used medicinally in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and also to treat several other conditions[ 2250 Title Plant Sources of Galanthamine: Phytochemical and Biotechnological Aspects Publication Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 23:2, 1170-1176, 2009 Author Berkov S. et al Website https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2009.10817633 Publisher Year 2009 ISBN 1310-2818 Description ]. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its late winter and spring flowers[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Leucojum aestivum is fairly common and the threats it is facing are unlikely to cause its decline in the near future. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2014)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].