Floral find

A RARE flower has been spotted in a lightly wooded area near the River Annan. At first glance it looks like a species of snowdrop - especially as it grows together with Snowdrops. However it is a different plant altogether but with a similar name - snowflake. Finder Thelma Smith said: “The snowdrop is of the genus galanthus whereas the snowflake is genus leucojum. Both grow from from bulbs. The main difference is in the flower head: the snowdrop has three large outer petals and three small inner petals, whereas the snowflake has six outer slightly pointed petals. The snowdrop’s leaves are thin and a greyish-green colour, the snowflake’s leaves are broader and mid to dark green. “There is also a summer variety of the snowflake.”