Coinnle Corra
Latin name: Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Like daffodils, bluebells flower early in spring.
You know it's spring when bluebells cover the woodland floors. They leave a very strong scent in the air. These flowers grow very quickly.
Bluebells growing along a woodland path
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government
Do you remember why the daffodils flower early in spring? The bluebells flower early for the same reason.
When the leaves on the trees all open out they block out the sunlight. The bluebells are very busy little flowers. They make their food while the sunlight can still reach the woodland floor.
All of this food is stored for the next year.
Bluebells
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government
Bluebells
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government
Bluebells
©Dept. of Environment, Community and Local Government
Take a close look at the photo of the bluebells on the right. Can you guess where they get their name?
The blue flowers look just like a set of tiny bells.
Bluebell glue?
Long ago, the sticky sap from bluebells was used as glue. The glue was used to bind books and to stick feathers onto the end of arrows.