Around 50 species from Europe, the Middle East and Russia. They have large bulbs, basal strap-shaped or lanceolate leaves and leafless flower stems carrying dense racemes of flowers similar in shape to muscari but with the mouth of the bess unconstricted, and generally in shades of off-white and brownish-yellow, but some blue. The tepal tubes are fused for half to two-thirds of their length, with the stamens attached just inside the mouth. Fruit a three-valved capsule containing dark, spherical seeds. Apart from the exceptions noted in the species' description, they are mainly plants of the open fields and grassy slopes.

Uses

Poor flower colour reduces the garden value of most species, but four blue-flowered species are known and merit growing in the sunny raised bed, i.e. BB. atroviolacea, forniculata, paradoxa, pycnantha.