Gagea

Gagea is a large genus of spring flowers in the lily family (Liliaceae). It comprises approximately 200 species, which are widely distributed across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America.

Description

The plant genus of the yellow stars (Gagea) is characterized by its small to medium-sized herbaceous plants. These geophytes form egg-shaped or spherical bulbs as survival organs, which store energy for the next growing season. The stem is usually simple and short-lived.

The leaves are linear to lancet-like, flat, tubular, or troughy, and are often contracted at the tip like a hood. They can be bare or clothed with hairs on the edge. One or two (rarely three) foliage leaves are basic, while two (rarely three) leaves may be under the inflorescence.

Flowers

The inflorescence is usually crowded together and resembles a dolden or umbrella shape. The flowers are radiarly symmetrical and three-fold, with two circles of perigone leaves that contain six or more perigone leaves each. These leaves are free, absent, or present in varying numbers (three to five). They are often colored golden yellow to yellow-green, with a green back strip on the perigone leaves that may also be whitish or pink.

The flowers have a honey pit at their base and six stamens that are either of equal length or have three shorter and three longer ones. The stamens are thin to flattened, and the dust bags are upright and attached to the ground.

Fruit and Seeds

The fruit is triangular, loculicidal, and thin-walled, wrapped by durable enlarged flower coat leaves. It contains many seeds that are spherical, rolling, or weakly compressed, and often brown with longitudinal and transverse stripes and appendages.

Chromosome Sets

The basic chromosome number for Gagea is x = 12, but different levels of ploidia have been found in some species.

Nomenclature and Distribution

The genus Gagea was established by Richard Anthony Salisbury in 1806. It honors the English botanist Sir Thomas Gage (* 1781; † 1820). The genus is part of the tribus Tulipeae within the subfamily Lilioideae within the family Liliaceae.

Taxonomy

Gagea was previously discussed as a separate genus from Lloydia, but recent studies have suggested that it may be a synonym for Lloydia. However, some sources still recognize Gagea as a distinct genus.

External Links

* Pacific Bulb Society: Photos of several species
* Treknature: Photos of Gagea sp., a genus of the family Liliaceae