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,
Luzula nivalis ellipsoidal, smooth, brown and 1.0–1.2 × 0.6–0.7 mm in size. Basel appendages are fibrillate and up to 0.2 mm long. The fruit of "L. nivalis" is sessile and dry with a persistent and glabrous calyx. The rosette-like whorl of short leaves in "Luzula nivalis" allows it to easily be distinguished from "Luzula confusa". "Luzula nivalis" has been described as having an 'arctic-alpine circumpolar' distribution, as "L. nivalis" is an alpine plant which grows in the arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. Places which "L. nivalis" grows in include Norway, Sweden, Finland and Svalbard. "Luzula nivalis" has been found in a