Galanthus reginae-olgae three smaller inner tepals, white with variable green markings near the tips. The outer tepals are about 15–35 cm long, the inner ones 9–12 mm long. Populations of "Galanthus reginae-olgae" that flower at different times, with or without the leaves being fully developed, have been described as separate species or subspecies. Those described as "G. reginae-olgae" subsp. "reginae-olgae" flower in the autumn, either before the leaves develop or with the leaves. Those described as "G. reginae-olgae" subsp. "vernalis" flower in late winter or early spring, with the leaves. "Galanthus reginae-olgae" was first described in 1876 by Theodoros G. Orphanides. The
Galanthus nivalis (flowering stalk), which bears at the top a pair of bract-like spathe valves joined by a papery membrane. From between them emerges a solitary, pendulous, bell-shaped white flower, held on a slender pedicel. The flower consists of six tepals, also referred to as segments. The outer three are larger and more convex than the inner ones. The inner flower segments are usually marked on their outer surface with a green or greenish-yellow V- or U-shaped mark (sometimes described as "bridge-shaped") over the small sinus (notch) at the tip of each tepal. The inner surface has a faint green mark covering