Gagea peduncularis - Yellow Star of Bethlehem
Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Liliales - Family: Liliaceae
Description
With two long filamentous basal leaves and tiny lanceaolate or spathulate stem leaves, this lily is distinguished by its green-lined yellow petals backed by shorter narrowly oblong sepals. Individual flowers are typicall 3cm across and each stem bears on, two or three flowers.
Distribution
This member of the Lily family can be found in former Yugoslavia, Greece, Crete and Turkey.
Habitat
Dry, stony places and grassland are its main habitats and it can occur quite high up in mountains.
Blooming times
The flowers appear from January through to the end of April.
Etymology
The genus Gagea is named in honour of English naturalist Sir Thomas Gage (1781 - 1820).
The plant shown on this page was photographed in Crete in early April.
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