STERNBERGIA LUTEA subsp. LUTEA
Including: Sternbergia fischeriana
Family:- AMARYLLIDACEAE
Common Names:- Common sternbergia
Synonyms:- Sternbergia lutea
Meaning:- Sternbergia (L) For Count Kasper Moritz von Sternbergia of Prague.
(1761-1838).
Lutea.(L) Yellow, vile, of clay, muddy.
General description:- Herbaceous plant.
Bulb:-
a) 10-16mm diam.
Stem:-
a) Erect, non-leafy, hairless.
1) Scape:
a) well developed, at least 4 cm at anthesis, later elongating and usually curved.
Leaves:-
a) 3-10(-15) mm wide.
b) developing at or just after anthesis.
c) linear, slightly channelled on the upper surface.
d) bright glossy green without a central stripe.
Flowers:-
1) Perianth segments.
a) bright yellow.
b) usually oblong-elliptical.
c) goblet-shaped and crocus-like.
2) Tepals:
a) 3.5-6 x 1-2.3 cm.
b) rounded at the apex.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule:
a) 8-10 mm diam.
b) 3 chambered.
c) fleshy.
Habitat:- Dry stony and grassy places, open scrub.
Distribution:- Endemic Crete & Karpathos. Occurring very sporadically in the
central and western parts of the island.
Flowering time:- Oct-Dec.
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
STERNBERGIA FISCHERIANA
Synonyms:- Sternbergia vernalis.
Meaning:- Fischeriana (L) For Friedrich Ernest Ludwig von Fischer (1782-1854) Director of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg.
Resembling Sternbergia lutea, but differering in the following characters:
Flowers large, similar in size to those of S. lutea, but with distinctive, flat leaves with a rounded tip.
A recent record of this spring-flowering plant, (January-February), from eastern Crete.The species has an unusual, scattered distribution in western and central Asia and it seems likely that it has been introduced into many of the recorded localities, including this one in Crete. 1).
1) Extract from "Flowers of Crete" Fielding & Turland 2005:
Habitat:- Dry stony and grassy places, open scrub.
Distribution:- Western and central Asia
Flowering time:- Jan-Feb
Photos:- Unavailable
Synonyms:- Sternbergia vernalis.
Meaning:- Fischeriana (L) For Friedrich Ernest Ludwig von Fischer (1782-1854) Director of the Botanical Garden at St Petersburg.
Resembling Sternbergia lutea, but differering in the following characters:
Flowers large, similar in size to those of S. lutea, but with distinctive, flat leaves with a rounded tip.
A recent record of this spring-flowering plant, (January-February), from eastern Crete.The species has an unusual, scattered distribution in western and central Asia and it seems likely that it has been introduced into many of the recorded localities, including this one in Crete. 1).
1) Extract from "Flowers of Crete" Fielding & Turland 2005:
Habitat:- Dry stony and grassy places, open scrub.
Distribution:- Western and central Asia
Flowering time:- Jan-Feb
Photos:- Unavailable
