Editing Hyacinthoides non-scripta (section)

==Distribution and ecology==
{{Multiple image
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| image1 = Pryor's Wood Bluebells 2017-04-22-7.jpg
| caption1 = Bluebells in [[Pryor's Wood]], Hertfordshire 
| image2 = Ulbhabluebells.jpg
| caption2 = In the west of its range, ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' lives in open habitats, here on [[Ulva]] in the [[Hebrides]], Scotland 
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''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' is native to the western parts of Atlantic Europe, from north-western [[Spain]] and north-western [[Portugal]], to the [[Netherlands]], [[Great Britain]], and [[Ireland]].<ref name=Ortiz2011>{{cite book |author=S. Ortiz |year=2011 |chapter=Hyacinthoides Heist. ex Fabr. |title=Flora Iberica, Volume 20: Liliaceae - Agavaceae| isbn=9788400097455|url=http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/imprenta/tomoXX/20_183_00_Hyacinthoides.pdf|publisher=Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |location=Spain }}</ref> It is found in [[Belgium]], Great Britain, [[France]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], Portugal, the Netherlands and Spain, and also occurs as a naturalized species in [[Germany]], [[Italy]] and [[Romania]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://193.62.154.38/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Hyacinthoides&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= |work=[[Flora Europaea]] |title=''Hyacinthoides'' |access-date=March 28, 2012 |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh]] |archive-date=February 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215202923/http://193.62.154.38/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Hyacinthoides&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= |url-status=dead }}</ref> It has also been introduced (and can be highly invasive) into various parts of North America, in both the [[Pacific Northwest]] ([[British Columbia]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Oregon]]), the Great Lakes region ([[Ontario]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Ohio]] and [[Pennsylvania]]) and other parts of the United States ([[the Virginias]], [[Kentucky]] and [[Indiana]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HYNO |title=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (L.) Chouard ex Rothm., English bluebell |work=PLANTS Profile |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> it has been introduced as well to [[New Zealand]].

Despite the wide distribution of ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'', it reaches its greatest densities in Britain and Ireland,<ref name="NHM">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/endangered-species/hyacinthoides-non-scripta/distribution-ecology/index.html |title=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'' (British bluebell) > Distribution and ecology |publisher=[[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] |author=Fred Rumsey |work=Species of the day |access-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221223743/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/endangered-species/hyacinthoides-non-scripta/distribution-ecology/index.html |archive-date=February 21, 2012}}</ref> where "[[bluebell wood]]s" (woodland with the understory dominated by ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' in spring) are a familiar sight. ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' is found throughout Britain and Ireland, with the exception of the northern [[Outer Hebrides]] ([[Lewis and Harris]]), [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]],<ref name="Stace"/> and it is estimated that 25%–50% of all common bluebells may be found in Britain and Ireland.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Deborah D. Kohn |author2=Philip E. Hulme |author3=Peter M. Hollingsworth |author4=Adam Butler |year=2009 |title=Are native bluebells (''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'') at risk from alien congenerics? Evidence from distributions and co-occurrence in Scotland |journal=[[Biological Conservation (journal)|Biological Conservation]] |volume=142 |issue=1 |pages=61–74 |doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2008.09.030 |bibcode=2009BCons.142...61K |url=http://labs.eeb.utoronto.ca/barrett/pdf/Kohn_ETAL2009.pdf |access-date=2012-03-24 |archive-date=2020-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114102818/http://labs.eeb.utoronto.ca/barrett/pdf/Kohn_ETAL2009.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bluebells are a species of deciduous woodland over much of their range, flowering and leafing early before the canopy closes in late spring. They may also be found growing under [[Pteridium aquilinum|bracken]] or [[Japanese knotweed]], perennial plants which also form stands with a dense summer canopy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/sheffield/biodiversity/species/facts/bluebell.html |title=Bluebells |publisher=Sheffield Wildlife Trust |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724012132/http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/sheffield/biodiversity/species/facts/bluebell.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> They are most successful on slightly acid soils; the same niche in alkaline conditions may be occupied by other species such as ''[[Mercurialis perennis]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.field-studies-council.org/urbaneco/urbaneco/woodland/shading.htm |publisher=[[Field Studies Council]] |year=2009 |title=Woodland plants |access-date=April 22, 2012 |archive-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626231158/http://www.field-studies-council.org/urbaneco/urbaneco/woodland/shading.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a species adapted to woodlands, the young shoots are able to penetrate through a thick layer of [[leaf litter]],<ref>{{cite book |author=J. R. Packham |year=1992 |title=Functional Ecology of Woodlands and Forests |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] |isbn=978-0-412-43950-6 |chapter=Soils, climate and zonation |pages=97–140 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9n0x5AZY2XUC&pg=PA133}}</ref> and bluebells are often used as an [[indicator species]] to identify [[ancient woodland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/forests/5245599/Bluebells-hold-clue-to-ancient-forests.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514083651/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/forests/5245599/Bluebells-hold-clue-to-ancient-forests.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2009 |title=Bluebells hold clue to ancient forests |author=Jack Watkins |newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph]] |date=April 30, 2009 |access-date=March 27, 2012}}</ref> Bluebells are also frequently found in hedgerows, and in the west of their range they can be found growing in open habitats, including coastal meadows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk/action-plans/listing.php?id=66 |title=Bluebell (''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'') |work=Species Action Plans |publisher=Cheshire Regional Biodiversity Partnership |access-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408052212/http://www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk/action-plans/listing.php?id=66 |archive-date=April 8, 2012 }}</ref> Bluebell flowers are rich in [[pollen]] and [[nectar]], and are chiefly pollinated by [[bumblebee]]s, although they are also visited by various other insects.<ref name="Morris">{{cite book |author1=[[Jill, Duchess of Hamilton]] |author2=Penny Hart |author3=John Simmons |year=2006 |title=The Gardens of William Morris |publisher=Frances Lincoln |isbn=978-0-7112-2609-8 |chapter=''Hyacinthoides non-scripta'', bluebell |page=131 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAJqeMhGvIMC&pg=PT131}}</ref> They are a host species for the parasitic fungus ''[[Uromyces muscari]]'', which causes bluebell rust.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Stefan Buczacki |author2=Keith Harris |year=1998 |title=Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants |edition=2nd |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-00-220063-9 |chapter=Diseases |page=389}}</ref> The ability of ''H.&nbsp;non-scripta'' to take up [[phosphorus]] from the soil is greatly enhanced by the presence of [[arbuscular mycorrhiza]]e in its roots.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Michael Begon |author2=Colin R. Townsend |author3=John L. Harper |year=2006 |title=Ecology: from Individuals to Ecosystems |edition=4th |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |isbn=978-1-4051-1117-1 |chapter=Symbiosis and mutualism |pages=381–409 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uGAqEp4AsfcC&pg=PA399}}</ref>