Bellevalia paradoxa is a bulb forming plant in the genus Bellevalia of the family Asparagaceae, formerly classified in the genus Muscari, under which name it is commonly sold as Muscari paradoxum.
Description Bulbs are globose-ovoid, 1.5–2 cm long and 1–3 cm wide. Leaves 2–3, linear, narrowed at the base, with pointed tips, long. The inflorescence is racemose, the petals 10–15 over a 1–2 cm brush, dark purple, with a perianth 0.5–0.6 cm long and 0.2–0.3 cm wide, anthers 0.6–1 mm, yellow. Bellevalia paradoxa blooms in late April, blooming for up to 25 days. In contrast to plant in the genus Muscari the flowers are campanulate, not rounded.
Distribution Eastern and north-eastern TurkeyAhmet Kahraman, Ferhat Celep, Musa Dogan, Mehmet Koyuncu. Morpho-Anatomical Studies on Bellevalia paradoxa Boiss. Belonging to Liliaceae. Australian Journal of Crop Science 2010, 4(3):150-154 and Georgia, in mountain pastures, fields, rocky areas, and wet meadows at altitudes of above sea level.
Cultivation It is widely cultivated as an ornamental garden plant of the grape hyacinth class. It is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 7–9. It is best grown in relatively dry soil, in a sunny location.
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