Download Bluebells

Finding Out About
Bluebells
Level 5
A bluebell is a wild flower found in woods, hedgerows and other shady places, including
gardens. It grows to a height of about 30cm. The long, narrow leaves are often curled at the
tip. These leaves break through the rotting leaf litter in early Spring and for some time lie flat
on the surface of the soil. From the centre of these leaves, a spike of pale buds grows. As it
develops over two or three months, the buds open to form the final flower spike.
The petals of the flower are usually blue but can be white or pink! The six petals are joined
together to form a tube, shaped like a bell. They curl back to show the six anthers which hold
the pollen. At the base of the flower is the ovary, where the seeds will be formed. It has a
thread-like pointed style, ending in a tiny stigma, poking up in the middle of the anthers.
The bluebell is classified as a herbaceous perennial. This means that the whole plant doesn’t
die during the winter. It remains below ground in the form of a bulb. This contains a store
of energy which is used the following Spring when there is rapid growth and flowers are
formed.
The bulb is white and about 2cm. across. It grows about 15cm. below the surface of the soil.
The juicy, hairless, flower stem grows from the bulb. The flowers of the bluebell are at their
best in late April and early May. When the flowers die, green seed pods are formed. By July
these will be dry and brown and full of small black seeds. The seeds may take 5 years to
develop into a mature flowering bulb.
Bluebells are pollinated by bees and other insects which are seeking a good source of
nectar before many other plants are in flower.
Finding Out About
Bluebells
Level 5 Revision Sheet
Can you answer these questions?
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In what sort of places can bluebells be found?
A fully grown bluebell would normally reach a height of how many centimetres?
Describe the appearance of the leaves of a bluebell?
At what time of year do the first leaves of the bluebell appear?
Which parts of the flower are like a bell shaped tube?
Are bluebell flowers always blue?
Which part of the flower contains the pollen?
How far below the surface might the bulb be found?
What is the main purpose of the bulb?
When is the best time to find bluebells flowering?
What happens when the flowers die?
Can you explain why bluebells and woodland plants might flower earlier than many other plants, (Hint: Woodland tree canopy in early Spring).
Draw and label a bluebell plant using the diagram below: