Galanthus February and White ladies (see Symbols). Snowdrops are hardy herbaceous plants that perennate by underground bulbs. They are among the earliest spring bulbs to bloom, although a few forms of "G. nivalis" are autumn flowering. In colder climates, they will emerge through snow (see illustration). They naturalise relatively easily forming large drifts. These are often sterile, found near human habitation, and also former monastic sites. The leaves die back a few weeks after the flowers have faded. "Galanthus" plants are relatively vigorous and may spread rapidly by forming bulb offsets. They also spread by dispersal of seed, animals disturbing bulbs,
Micranthes nivalis Russia, Canada, Alaska and Greenland. The plant was first described by Carl Linnaeus in "Flora Lapponica" (1737), as a result of his Lapland voyage. Some populations from the Canadian Province of Quebec have been recognized as a distinct species by some authors, a variety of "M. nivalis" others: is distinguished from var. "nivalis" by smaller inflorescences and narrower leaves. It is known only from the Shickshock Mountains of the Gaspé Peninsula of southeastern Québec. It has been suggested that this may be a hybrid of "M. nivalis" and "M. tenuis;" further study is warranted. Micranthes nivalis Micranthes nivalis is a