22/03/2024
~ Galanthus Nivalis ~
We are coming to the end of Snowdrop season, so I hope you have had a chance to go out and spot some near you. Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have some in your garden?
Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear in the new year when it’s still cold and frosty, but did you know that these flowers are actually named after earrings and not the late winter snow as you would expect? It is thought that they were named so because they resembled the pearl drop earrings that were popular in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
Also, Snowdrops contain several antifreeze proteins (AFPs) that protect their cells from the potentially deadly effects of large ice crystals. These proteins bind to small ice crystals and inhibit further growth. Because of this, Snowdrops were used to de-ice tanks in the first world war. Isn’t that amazing?
