GAGEA RIGIDA

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Gagea reticulata var. fibrosa, Gagea reticulata subsp.

rigida, Gagea reticulata f. rigida, Hornungia rigida.

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

Rigida (L) Stiff, inflexible.

General description:- Low plant.

Bulb:-

1) c. 15 x 7 mm, solitary, ovoid, covered by thick fibrous roots; tunics often

produced into a short neck.

Stem:-

1) 4-10 cm,, sparsely patent to deflexed-pilose. usually branching below ground

level, with cauline leaves appearing basal.

Leaves:-

1) Basal leaves 1 or 2, narrowly linear, subtrigonous-canaliculate, tough, exceeding

the flowers.

Flowers:-

1) 1-3, opening widely.

2) Pedicels, 2-25 mm, much elongating at fruiting time.

3) Perianth segments, 15-20 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, rather tough, bright yellow

above, greenish-yellow beneath.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, obovoid, much shorter than the persistent perianth.

Key features:-

1) First cauline leaf linear, morphologically similar to the basal.

2) Perianth segments, 15-20 mm, acuminate.

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Habitat:- Rocky limestone slopes with dry open shrubby vegetation, often in bare

patches of terra rossa between shrublets. (0-)200-1500 m.

Distribution:- Somewhat limited distribution across the Aegean, Reported from S

Anatolia and Cyprus. Although widespread across Crete it is not particularly

common.

Flowering time:- Mar-Apr.

Photo by:- Steve Lenton