GAGEA PEDUNCULARIS

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ornithogalum pedunculare.

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

Peduncularis (L) With the flower supported on a distinct stalk.

General description:- Low plant.

Bulbs:-

1) 2, within a common, dark brown tunic.

Stem:-

1) Generally 8-15 cm tall, puberulent.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, 2, filiform-linear, canaliculate.

2) Cauline, 1-3, alternate, narrowly lanceolate-caudate, acuminate, glabrous or

ciliate.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, 13(-7)-flowered, terminal pedicel much longer than flower after

anthesis.

2) Perianth segments, 11-16 mm, elliptic-lanceolate, subobtuse, bright yellow

above, greenish beneath, elongating to 22 mm and with curling margins after

anthesis.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, obovoid, emarginate.

Key features:-

1) Terminal pedicel, usually much longer than the flower after anthesis.

2) Some non-flowering plants with a single, rather large (2-3 mm) sister bulbil at the

top of the bulb.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, open woodland and sub-alpine thorncushion

communities. 0-1100 (-1500) m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout the Peloponnisos, Ionian Islands and mainland

Greece, but rare in the north. - From S Italy to Anatolia and Cyprus. Fairly

widespread across Crete.

Flowering time:- Mid-Feb to May.

Photo by:- Steve Lenton