| Actual Image
Star-of-Bethlehem for ANNA (54)
boreocypriensis
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4110 W: 156 N: 5317]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (14174) | Gagea taurica (Greenish Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem)
[A Detailed structure of a single flower in WS]
Gagea is a large genus of spring flowers in the Liliaceae family found in Europe and western Asia. Most of the species are small with starry yellow flowers in spring.It is named after the English naturalist Sir Thomas Gage. They were originally described as species of Ornithogalum, which, together with the usual yellow colour of the flowers, explains the English name Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem for the most common species in Europe, Gagea lutea, which grows in damp deciduous woodland.
In Turkey, It has been recorded 26 species belonging to the genus. It is realy hard to identify this flower in my posting. However, when I took into consideration the distributions, flowering times and visible features of the known species from Turkey, I decide that it is Gagea taurica which occur in steppes and stony hillsides between the elavations of 1000-2600 m asl [I found these flowers near the Karagöl Lake, Bolkar Mt., See my previous landscape shots -PH1 & PH2- to see the habitat of the species]. This species is distributed in Greece, Turkey, Caucasia, Crimea, Syria and Iran.
Short Description of the Species: Bulb solitary; tunics pale brown, papery, sometimes forming a split and slightly elongated sheath, often entwined with thickened roots. Basal leaf 1, linear, to 3 mm broad, 5-angIed or somewhat canaliculate, solid, usually exceeding inflorescence. Inflorescence umbellate, 2.5-12 cm. Cauline leaves 3-4, whoried, subtending umbel, lowest ones narrowly lanceolate, 2.5-6 cm, usually exceeding flowers. Flowers 1-3. Pedicels unequal, longest ones to 3.5 cm, usually pilose, always shorter than scape. Perianth segments yellow inside, green outside, narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate, (10-)15-20 x 2-6 mm, elongating during flowering, acuminate to acute; margins, especially of inner ones, hyaline. Capsule spherical to obovoid or shortly cylindrical, shorter than perianth segments. Fl 4-5.
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Today I would like to dedicate these shots of this beautiful montane flower to one of our heartfelt friends in TN, Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) from South Africa for her kind interest my captures and her warm expressions. I read your comment which you wrote my Sis (Leyla) Anna and you can sure that I was touched! Therefore the later is the third reason to dedicate these flowers :). Thank you Anna for everything once more friend!
Hoping that you like these shots!
Cheers,
Bayram
Ps. Thanks to Ori (fragman) for generic ID .
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References:
1. Van Florası Sanal Herbaryumu
2. Gagea-Wikipedia. |
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