Not hard and fast rules but with English ones the bluebells tend to grow on one side and the stalk droops over. Spanish ones tend to be thicker stalked with the bluebell growing on all sides. You can get hybrid ones. I spent two seasons studying them for my dissertation and this is basically what it boiled down to.
Oh, thank you, I never expected to see a real bluebell expert in the comments. So these look English, is that correct? And how do you distinguish the hybrids then?
Picture 1 and 2 definitely Spanish. 3 looks like a mix, hard to tell. You only spot a hybrid by DNA testing or very powerful microscope to look at cell structures. Things like how much shade from buildings or canopy cover can impact on how they grow. A very shaded part can make English look like Spanish as they grow thick but as individuals. Lots of light puts them in groups of skinny ones. The growing on one side is a good indicator they are English. People tend to think its illegal to pick them. Its not. Its illegal to pick and sell them. You can pick them for yourself.
I had heard the pollen colour was a good indicator with English having a creamy white pollen and the Spanish ones having blue or pale green tinted pollen. I usually use this along with the 'does it dangle just so' method to tell them apart.
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
Full_Imagination_890@reddit
Not hard and fast rules but with English ones the bluebells tend to grow on one side and the stalk droops over. Spanish ones tend to be thicker stalked with the bluebell growing on all sides. You can get hybrid ones. I spent two seasons studying them for my dissertation and this is basically what it boiled down to.
laponca@reddit (OP)
Oh, thank you, I never expected to see a real bluebell expert in the comments. So these look English, is that correct? And how do you distinguish the hybrids then?
Full_Imagination_890@reddit
Picture 1 and 2 definitely Spanish. 3 looks like a mix, hard to tell. You only spot a hybrid by DNA testing or very powerful microscope to look at cell structures. Things like how much shade from buildings or canopy cover can impact on how they grow. A very shaded part can make English look like Spanish as they grow thick but as individuals. Lots of light puts them in groups of skinny ones. The growing on one side is a good indicator they are English. People tend to think its illegal to pick them. Its not. Its illegal to pick and sell them. You can pick them for yourself.
Shrimpingtons@reddit
I had heard the pollen colour was a good indicator with English having a creamy white pollen and the Spanish ones having blue or pale green tinted pollen. I usually use this along with the 'does it dangle just so' method to tell them apart.
laponca@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
Diddleymaz@reddit
They look like genuine British bluebells, we have lots of them here in Wales 🏴
laponca@reddit (OP)
The pictures are taken not that far from Wales, by the way
BeesInATeacup@reddit
There's an app called PlantNet where you can identify plants for free! Might be useful to you
laponca@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
Head_Hacker@reddit
Ask them. If they answer with a funny accent, probably Spanish.
laponca@reddit (OP)
They didn't answer
Southportdc@reddit
Probably don't speak English then
laponca@reddit (OP)
Must be Spanish then
Haresmoors@reddit
OldBean69@reddit
1 and 2 are Spanish. 3 are English
knightsbridge-@reddit
English.
Spanish bluebells are thicker and heavier, and the stems point straight up with the unopened flowers as a point at the top.
English ones are more slender and the top of the stem tends to bend over to the side under the weight of the flowers.
laponca@reddit (OP)
I thought they were English too. The Google lense thinks they are Spanish. Folks of reddit give different answers...
Limp-Boysenberry1583@reddit
I think the 3rd pic look like English ones.
Whoosholliander@reddit
I think they are. They're too long and narrow for Spanish ones.
L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit
Hyacinthoides hispanica - spanish, from what I can tell by the photographs.
laponca@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit
Happy I could help.
AutoModerator@reddit
Please help keep AskUK welcoming!
When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!
Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.