Liliaceae

M.azureum Fenzl in Ann. Sci. Nat. ser.4,12:165(1859). Syn: Bellevalia azurea (Fenzl) Boiss., Fl. Or. 5:307 (1882);Muscari praecox Siehe in Garten-flora 77:56 (1928)! Hyacinthella azurea (Fenzl) Chouard in Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris ser. 2, 3:178 (1931). Ic: Rix & Phillips, Bulb Book 70(a) (1981). Figure 12. Map 41.
Bulb 0.8-2.5 cm diam., not proliferating. Leaves 2-3, erecto-patent to falcate, linear-oblanceolate, (3-)6-I8 cm x 3-15 mm, canaliculate, sheathing below, apex ± undulate, upper surface paler and glaucous. Scape 4-20 cm, often longer in fruit. Raceme very dense,ovoid, 1-3 xl(-l.5) cm, 20-60-flowered. Pedicels of fertile flowers ascending or spreading, 2-4 mm. Fertile flowers densely imbricate, campanulate, 4-5 x 2.5-3 mm, not constricted above, bright sky blue with narrow dark blue fascia down tube and centre of lobes; lobes 3 x 1-1.5 mm, slightly recurved, same colour as tube. Stamens nearly uniseriate, attached below middle of tube. Sterile flowers few, smaller and paler. Fruiting raceme remaining dense, pedicels ascending to form a conferted ovoid-oblong head. Capsule suborbicular, 5-7 x 5-7 mm, apex shortly emarginate. Seeds 2 mm diam., rather glossy, black, smooth to minutely pitted. 2n = 18 (cult.). Fl. 3-5. Rocky slopes, subalpine pastures, near alpine lakes, 1500-2600 m.
Type: [Turkey C5 Niğde] in Tauro Cilicio, supra arcem Gülek, 2285 m, Kotschy (holo. W).
' Scattered in Anatolia, mainly W. of Anatolian Diagonal. A5 Amasya: Sana Da., 1600 m, 1890, Bornm. s.n.! Akdağ, 1450 m, A. & T. Baytop (lSTE 48473)! B7 Erzincan: Egin, Faltbaschi, Sint. 1890:2398! C5 Adana: Hacin Da., 1500 m, Siehe 1896:684 (as M. praecox and Bellevalia azurea)] Bürücek1300 m, D. 26344! Maden, 2600 m, Siehe 1898:298! C5 lçel/Adana: Toros Da., Tekir Da., Hacin Tepeleri, 1740 m, Buttler 12946 & Uzunoğlu.
Endemic. Closely allied to Muscari pseudomuscari (Boiss. & Buhse) Wendelbo (Syn: M. chaiusicum Stuart) from N. Iran.