Galanthus leaves (vernation). In the era of molecular phylogenetics this characteristic has been shown to be unreliable and now seven moleculary defined clades are recognised corresponding to the biogeographical distribution of species. New species continue to be discovered. Most species flower in winter, before the vernal equinox (20 or 21 March in the Northern Hemisphere), but some flower in early spring and late autumn. Snowdrops are sometimes confused with the two related genera within the tribe Galantheae, snowflakes "Leucojum" and "Acis". All species of "Galanthus" are perennial petaloid herbaceous bulbous (growing from bulbs) monocot plants. The genus is characterised by the
Amanita nivalis Amanita nivalis Amanita nivalis, the snow ringless amanita or mountain grisette, is a species of basidomycote fungus in the genus "Amanita". It was first described by the Scottish mycologist Robert Kaye Greville in 1826 from specimens found growing at high altitudes in the Scottish Highlands. He gave it the Latin epithet "nivalis" (of the snow) to indicate the alpine type habitat in which he found it growing rather than to describe its white colour. "Amanita nivalis" is a small species of fungus which is usually white when young but which becomes tinged with grey or buff as it ages. It