Gagea commutata, Stolonous Gold-crocus ,
Hebrew: זהבית השלוחות, Arabic: شحوم

Scientific name:  Gagea commutata K.Koch
Synonym name:  Gagea reticulata var. commutata (K.Koch) Miscz.
Common name:  Stolonous Gold-crocus
German name:  Gelbstern
Hebrew name:   זהבית השלוחות
Arabic name:  شحوم
Family:  Liliaceae, שושניים

Flora, Israel, Wildflowers

Life form:  Geophyte
Stems:  8-14 cm tall; very elongated peduncle
Leaves:  Rosette, entire, two basal leaves flattened but narrow to 2mm, cauline leaves 3-5, verticillate
Inflorescence:  1-6 flowers; very elongated peduncle
Flowers:  Yellow; very long-acuminate tepals (2-3 cm); 6 stamens; the color of the pollen is brown-orange
Fruits / pods:  Loculicidal capsule
Flowering Period:  February, March
Habitat:  Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:  Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands
Chorotype:   Irano-Turanian
Summer shedding:  Ephemeral

Gagea commutata, Star-of-Bethlehem, זהבית השלוחות


Derivation of the botanical name:
Gagea, named for Sir Thomas Gage (1761 - 1820), Hengrave Hall, Suffolk, who botanized in Ireland and Portugal.
commutata, changed or changing.
  • The standard author abbreviation K.Koch is used to indicate Karl Heinrich Emil Koch (1809 – 1879), a German botanist.