Galanthus name for the feast day. The French name of "Violette de la Chandaleur" refers to Candlemas, while an Italian name, "Fiore della purificazone", refers to purification. The German name of "" (Little snow bells) also invokes the symbol of bells. In the Language of flowers, the "Snowdrop" is synonymous with 'Hope', as it blooms in early springtime, just before the vernal equinox, and so is seen as 'heralding' the new spring and new year. Galanthus Galanthus (snowdrop; Greek "gála" "milk", "ánthos" "flower") is a small genus of about 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. The
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