16. Muscari Mill. (grape-hyacinth)
Plants perennial, with bulbs covered with a membranous to papery, smooth, outer
coat, lacking the odor of onion or garlic, glabrous. Aerial stems unbranched,
erect or ascending. Leaves 2–6, basal, linear, flat or tubular (circular in
cross-section and grooved longitudinally along the inner side), green.
Inflorescences at the tips of the aerial stems, racemes of numerous flowers,
the terminal few to several flowers sterile. Sepals and petals fused nearly to
the tips, urn-shaped to globose or nearly tubular, blue or greenish brown,
rarely white. Stamens 6, fused to the perianth tube. Style 1, the stigma
shallowly 3-lobed. Ovary superior, with 3 locules, each with 2 ovules. Fruits
ovoid to globose, trigonous capsules. About 60 species, Europe, Asia, Africa.