GAGEA LUTEA (L.) Ker-Gawler – Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem

Syn.: Gagea sylvatica Loud.
Family: Liliaceae Juss.

Distribution: Europe (excluding the northernmost areas), Asia (Central Asia, Japan).
Habitat: Grows in damp meadows, in flood plain forests, from lowlands to foothills.
Description: Perennial herb with a bulb, 10–25 cm high. The single basal leaf is linear, stem leaves are lanceolate. The star-shaped flowers are yellow in an umbel at the top of a single stem. Flowers from March to April.
Note: Formerly it was used as a medicinal herb.


Photos: 30. 3. 2004 (Czechia, Brno-Bystrc).