Early Star-of-Bethlehem
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 Early Star-of-Bethlehem (probable identification)
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| Gagea bohemica |
The Early Star-of-Bethlehem or Radnor Lily is a flowering plant in the genus Gagea of the family Liliaceae. It is sometimes referred to as the Welsh Star-of-Bethlehem.
The plant is found mainly in the Mediterranean region and central Europe but can also be found further north, for example in France and Germany; specimens have been discovered at a single site in the Welsh county of Radnorshire, the only location in the United Kingdom from which it has been reported, and the plant has been adopted as the county flower.
As its name suggests, the Early Star-of-Bethlehem blooms earlier than most other species of Gagea, and is usually found in flower from January to March or April. Its flowers are very similar to those of the congeneric Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem, but it is a less vigorous plant, growing to a height of 2-6 cm and normally having just a single pair of twisting, thread-like basal leaves, with one or two pairs of laneolate leaves, perhaps 1 cm wide, just below the flowers. The flowers, of which there are usually no more than 4 on each plant, are yellow and have six petals; they are about 1.5 cm in diameter. It grows mainly on dry grassland.
[edit] References
- Davies, P., & Gibbons, B. (1993). Field guide to wild flowers of southern Europe. Marlborough: Crowood. ISBN 1-85223-659-0
- Fitter, R., Fitter, A., & Blamey, M. (1996). Wild flowers of Britain and northern Europe, 5th edn. London: Harper/Collins. ISBN 0-00-220062-7
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