Galanthus confused with the other two genera, "Leucojum" and "Acis" (both called snowflakes). "Leucojum" species are much larger and flower in spring (or early summer, depending on the species), with all six tepals in the flower being the same size, though some "poculiform" (goblet- or cup-shaped) "Galanthus" species can have inner segments similar in shape and length to the outer ones. Galantheae are likely to have arisen in the Caucusus. "Galanthus" has about 20 species, but new species continue to be described. "G. trojanus" was identified in Turkey in 2001. "G. panjutinii" (Panjutin's snowdrop) was discovered in 2012 in five locations
Chlamydomonas nivalis "C. nivalis" is complex, it also helps the algae exploit its niche and survive unfavourable conditions. As a result, "C. nivalis" is one of the best known and studied snow algae. When taking account of the photoprotective effect of its secondary carotenoid, astaxanthin, among the other adaptive mechanisms to its extreme habitat, it can be understood how "C. nivalis" became so dominant in microbial snow algae communities. Green motile offspring are produced in the spring and throughout the summer. They develop into red dormant cysts, the stage where this organism spends most of its life cycle, as the winter season