Scilla peruviana

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Asparagales - Family: Asparagaceae

This exotic-looking plant is a native of the Western Mediterranean, where it can be found on roadside verges, in grassy and rocky ground, and in open woodland. It grows from a large bulb, and the flower stems at the base of the flower stalk have long stems whilst the ones at the top have virtually no stalk at all giving the flower spike an overall pyramidal appearance that is most attractive. Occasionally the flowers are white rather than blue.

This specimen was photographed in the Algarve in Portugal in April.