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Fritillaria meleagris
  • Snakehead Fritillary

a member of the Fritillaria genus in the family Liliaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210

Uses

Toxic parts

The bulb is poisonous[1].

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Fritillaria meleagris.

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Fritillaria meleagris.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant formerly had a reputation as a healing herb, but is not used at present[2].
There are no medicinal uses listed for Fritillaria meleagris.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring[3]. Protect from frost[4]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible and can take a year or more to germinate[4]. Sow the seed quite thinly to avoid the need to prick out the seedlings. Once they have germinated, give them an occasional liquid feed to ensure that they do not suffer mineral deficiency. Once they die down at the end of their second growing season, divide up the small bulbs, planting 2 - 3 to an 8cm deep pot. Grow them on for at least another year in light shade in the greenhouse before planting them out whilst dormant.

Division of offsets in August[3]. The larger bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on in a cold frame for a year before planting them out in the autumn.

Bulb scales[5].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Fritillaria meleagris. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a moist non-acid soil and a sunny position[6][7][8]. Succeeds in any soil, preferring a light soil with plenty of humus[3][9]. Succeeds in sun or light shade[3][9]. Grows well in short turf[10].

A very ornamental plant[3], it often self-sows when in a suitable position. Rabbits are very fond of this plant and will destroy it wholesale if given the opportunity[2]. A good plant for the spring meadow[7][9][4]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[10].

Plants should not be allowed to dry out in the summer[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Fritillaria meleagris. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Fritillaria meleagris.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Fritillaria meleagris
Genus
Fritillaria
Family
Liliaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[2]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[6][11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.3 x 0.08 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (1969-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. (1988-00-00)
    5. ? RHS Lily Group. Lilies and Related Plants. ()
    6. ? 6.06.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()
    8. ? Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. (1938-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30253-1 (1989-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)
    11. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

    "image:Fritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Fritillaria meleagris"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLiliaceae +
    Belongs to genusFritillaria +
    Has common nameSnakehead Fritillary +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bee + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageFritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has mature width0.08 +
    Has primary imageFritillaria meleagris (snakeshead fritillary).jpg +
    Has search namefritillaria meleagris + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameFritillaria meleagris +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +