GAGEA AMBLYOPETALA

Family and Genus:- See- LILIACEAE/G. BOHEMICA group

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Stellaster amblyopetalus.

Meaning:- Gagea (L) For the English botanist Sir Thomas Gage (1781-1820).

Amblyopetala (Gr) Blunt-petalled-one.

General description:- Plant, glabrous throughout.

Bulb:-

1) c. 8 x 6 mm; tunics brown, ± glossy.

2) Basal bulbil subglobose, often with an oblique ring-like fold.

Stem:-

1) 7-16 cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) Basal leaves, of the flowering plants 2, subequal, flat, narrowly linear-lanceolate,

1-2.5 mm wide, fresh green and rather glossy, with 3-5 vascular bundles close

together (up to 0.5 mm).

2) Cauline leaves, linear, acuminate, canaliculated.

Flowers:-

1) 3-10(-15), nodding in bud.

2) Perianth segments, c. 6-10 mm, narrowly ellipcal to oblong-oblanceolate,

subobtuse, bright yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, obovoid, truncate.

Key features:-

1) Basal leaf flat, solid.

2) Inflorescence of the old plants with up to 15 flowers.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Meadows, open woodland, orchards, mountain dolines, (0-)200-2000 m.

Distribution:- Scattered in mainland Greece and Peloponnisis; also reported from

the Ionian islands of Kefallinia, Lefkas and Ithaki. S. Italy to NW Anatolia. On Crete

confined to the four main massifs.

Flowering time:- Mar-Apr

Photo by:- Dr. Armina Jagel