RUTHENICUM

In Fl. 38: 5 (1855) Komarov, Flora U.R.S.S. 9: 21 (1939); Savulescu, Flora R.P.R. 4: 74 (1956). Synonyms: S. globiferum Linn. Emend. Koch; S. ruthenicum Koch; S. braunii Led.).

In addition to the foregoing synonymy  S. ruthenicum has long been confused with S. zelebori Schott and S. armenum Boiss. & Huet. The establishment of S. ruthenicum as a recognized species is based on the clarification made by Miss C.W. Muirhead which was published in the Notes from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Vol. 26 nr.3.

This species comes from eastern Europe, notably the Ukraine and Romania. The rosettes are 5 to 8 cm in diameter, few-leaved and of a dull green colour, incurved and sometimes have a small reddish-brown apex, the rosette leaf-shape is oblong-lanceolate, acuminate with cilia on margins and finely pubescent on face and back surfaces. In winter the rosettes are incurved but are more open in summer. Stolons are 3 to 5 cm long. Flower-stems are tall up to 30 cm, stem-leaves are few, oblong, loosely imbricate; inflorescence is 3 to 4 branched with flowers about 2,5 cm in diameter, petals are a greenish-yellow without a crimson base; filaments green, anthers yellow. The characters which separate this species from S. zelebori are the rather larger rosettes with dull green incurved leaves which can be as much as 5 to 8 cm in length and an unusually tall inflorescence.

Quite easy to cultivate and increases well. 

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