bluebell

—bluebelled, adj.

/blooh"bel'/, n.

1. any of numerous plants of the bellflower family, having blue, bell-shaped flowers, as a bellflower or harebell.

2. Also called wood hyacinth. an Old World plant, Endymion non-scriptus, of the lily family, having blue, bell-shaped flowers.

3. any of various other plants having blue flowers, as those of the genus Mertensia.

[1570-80; BLUE + BELL¹]

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Any plant of the genus Endymion, in the lily family, native to Eurasia.

Bluebell, or wild hyacinth (E. nonscriptus), and Spanish bluebell (E. hispanicus), bearing clusters of bell-shaped blue flowers, are cultivated as garden ornamentals; some authorities place them in the related genus Scilla of the same family. Many other plants are commonly known as bluebells, including species of the genera Campanula, Eustoma, Polemonium, and Clematis. In the U.S. the name bluebell is usually reserved for Mertensia virginica.

Wild hyacinth (Endymion nonscriptus)

M.T. Tanton

The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers

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▪ plant

 any plant of the genus Hyacinthoides of the family Hyacinthaceae, native to Eurasia. The bell-shaped blue flower clusters of bluebell, or wild hyacinth (H. nonscriptus or Endymion nonscriptus), and Spanish bluebell (H. hispanicus) are borne on plants about 30 centimetres (1 foot) tall. Both species are cultivated as garden ornamentals. Some authorities consider them as belonging to the related genus Scilla of the same family.

      Many other plants are commonly known as bluebells, including species of the genera Campanula, Eustoma, Polemonium, and Clematis. In the United States the name bluebell is usually reserved for Mertensia virginica.

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