STERNBERGIA LUTEA subsp. LUTEA

Including: Sternbergia fischeriana

Family and Genus:- See- AMARYLLIDACEAE

Common Names:- Common sternbergia

Homotypic 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.

Scape:-
1) Erect, non-leafy, glabrous, well developed, at least 4 cm at anthesis, later
    elongating and usually curved.

Bulb:-
1) 10-16mm diam.

Leaves:-
1) 3-10(-15) mm wide, developing at or just after anthesis, linear, slightly   
    canaliculate on the upper surface, bright glossy green without a central stripe.

Flowers:-
1) Perianth segments, bright yellow, usually oblong-elliptical, goblet-shaped and
    crocus­-like.
2) Tepals, 3.5-6 x 1-2.3 cm, rounded at the apex.

Fruit:-
1) Capsule, 8-10 mm diam, 3 chambered, fleshy.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

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

Homotypic 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
 
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