GAGEA HELDREICHII

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Gagea amblyopetala var. heldreichii,

Gagea amblyopetala subsp. heldreichii.

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

Heldreichii (L) After Theodor Heinrich Hermann von Heldreich (1822-

1902). Director of the Athens Botanical Garden.

General description:- Plant, glabrous throughout.

Bulb:-

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

2) Basal bulbil, decurrent on the peduncle, without an oblique ring-like fold.

Stems:-

1) 7-16 cm tall

Leaves:-

1) Basal, of flowering plants 2-3 mm wide, with 3 vascular bundles widely spaced

(up to 1.2 mm).

2) Cauline, linear, canaliculated.

Flowers:-

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

2) Perianth segments, (10-16 mm), lanceolate, ± acute, bright yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, obovoid, truncate.

Key features:-

1) Buds erect or slightly leaning.

2) Basal leaves, of the flowering plants 2-3 mm broad.

3) Perianth segments, lanceolate, ± acute.

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Habitat:- Rocky limestone slopes and screes, seasonally damp spots in open

coniferous woodland, 900-1500 m.

Distribution:- Few confirmed records from mainland Greece and Peloponnese ;

frequently confused with G. amblyopetala and other species. - Probably also in

Anatolia and Cyprus.

Flowering time:- Late March to early May.

Photo by:- Christophe Girod