Squill (Scilla)
Blooming: April – May
Squill is a type of bulb-forming perennial plant from the family Liliaceae (Lily family). There are more than ninety species found in woodlands, sub alpine meadows, and seashores across the Old World. They have become a favorite with gardeners all across the Northern Hemisphere as well. Their vibrantly beautiful flowers are usually blue, but also white, pink, and purple types are not uncommon. Most of this species flower in early spring, but a few bloom during the fall months. In the Conservatory Garden, they are one of the many species of colorful flowers that bloom in spring; their appearance heralding the arrival of warmer weather, longer days and balmy afternoons spent among the flagrant blooms. The wood, or wild Hyacinth, called also Bluebell or Harebell (S. nonscripta), is the common Squill and the one most often seen in Central Park.
The Scilla peruviana, a variant of the flower, is of interest for its name; it is a native of southwest Europe, not of Peru. The name resulted when Carolus Linnaeus (the brilliant man who gave us the modern method for naming and categorizing all plants and animals) described the species in 1753; he was given specimens imported from Spain aboard a ship named Peru, and was misled into thinking the specimens had come from that country. Unfortunately, the rules of botanical naming do not allow a scientific name to be changed simply because it is potentially confusing.
In the area of practical applications, Squill liquid extract, a preparation of powdered Squill and ethanol, is used as an ingredient in cough medicines and cardiac surgery and is still employed in many homeopathic treatments.
While Squill in the Conservatory Garden is seldom seen as the star of the show, it is an integral component of the bright floral array that appears every spring. If there were a best supporting flower award, this hearty bloom would surely be a favored nominee.