Sternbergia question
Jane McGary (Sat, 11 Feb 2006 16:42:41 PST)

The new "Flowers of Crete" by Fielding, Turland & Mathew has some comments
on distinguishing species of Sternbergia, introduced by the comment, "The
similar appearance of the three autumnal species, and the existence of
mixed popoulations, can be very confusing. The differences are supposedly
distinct, but certainly complex." There follows a summary based on the
revision of Sternbergia in the southern Aegean by Kamari and Artelari
(Willdenowia 19:367-388, 1990).

They accept S. sicula as a species, differing from lutea in that sicula has
leaves with a glaucous central stripe and lutea has solid glossy green
leaves, and sicula's tepals are "usually" pointed at the apex, while
lutea's are rounded. However, they publish a photo of a big colony of
apparent sicula with an individual in the middle of it having flowers like
lutea (leaves not present at time of flowering).

The third autumnal species on Crete is S. greuteriana, a mini-Sternbergia
which is a favorite of mine.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA