Galanthus nivalis.en.wikipedia.org. (Accessed 4/2014).

Spring ephemeral, about 15 cm tall, from bulbs, colonial from offsets, sometimes apparently producing viable seed also. 

Leaves two, strap-shaped to linear, waxy pale blue-green to 10 cm long, 2.5 cm wide. 

Flowers white, solitary, about 2.5 cm wide, dangling, emerging from a short, linear spath, petals, 3, short, inner petals with green markings, notched at tips, 3 outer petals elliptic, longer, from a green base, ovary inferior; flowers appearing slightly before leaves; blooms Feb-Mar., plant dormant by June. 

Fruit green at first, drooping to ground around margins of plant, seeds numerous. 

Wetland status: UPL. 

Frequency in NYC: Infrequent. 

Origin: Europe. 

Habitat: Horticultural, old house sites, garden waste; colonies spreading in place but usually not escaping. The most common of several Asian or European species in cultivation (Bailey et al. 1976).