GAGEA OMALENSIS

Family and Genus:- See- LILIACEAE/SECT. DIDYiMOBULBOS

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

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

Omalensis (L) From the Omalos plain, Lefka Ori.

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.

Stems:-

1) 7-16 cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) Subtrigonous becoming slightly fistulose, fresh green and rather glossy, with 3-5

vascular bundles arranged in a V-shape.

2) Cauline, linear, canaliculated.

Flowers:-

1) 1-5, 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) Vascular bundles, arranged in a V-shape.

2) Flowers, nodding in bud.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Meadows and fallow fields, c. 1100 m

Distribution:- Endemic to the Omalos plain, Lefka Ori, west Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-Apr

Photos by:- Yann Dupont

Status:-

Conservation status (for threatened species): Vulnerable according to the IUCN

red list 2016.

A recently described species known only from two collection in meadows