Galanthus "Akrokorion"), he placed "Galanthus" in the family Liliaceae, section Narcissi. Lamarck provided a description of the genus in his encyclopedia (1786) and later "Illustrations des genres" (1793). In 1789 de Jussieu, who is credited with the modern concept of genera organised in families, placed "Galanthus" and related genera within a division of Monocotyledons, using a modified form of Linnaeus' sexual classification but with the respective topography of stamens to carpels rather than just their numbers. In doing so he restored the name "Galanthus" and retained their placement under Narcissi, this time as a family (known as "Ordo", at that time)
Galanthus nivalis numerous named cultivars of "G. nivalis", single, semi-double, double and "poculiform" (meaning goblet or cup-shaped, this refers to flowers with inner segments that are almost the same shape and length as the outer ones). Apart from these traits they differ particularly in the size and markings of the flower and the period of flowering; other characteristics are less obvious to the untrained eye and are mainly of interest to "galanthophiles". In the UK and Ireland, many gardens open specially in February for visitors to admire the flowers. These displays may attract large numbers of sightseers. Some feature extensive displays of