Gagea fibrosa

Γαγέα η ινώδης

Etymology of Gagea fibrosa: The genus is named after the English naturalist Sir Thomas Gage (1791-1820). The name of the species comes from the Latin "fibrosa", which means "fibrous" because its oval bulb is surrounded by a brown tunic and a dense network of thin fibrous roots.

There are six Gagea kinds (all species) in the Cypriot habitat.

It is a perennial herb up to 6 cm tall. Gagea fibrosa is a common plant of Cypriot nature, encountered in all regions of Cyprus up to an altitude of 875 metres. Its flowering period is between January and March.

How to identify Gagea fibrosa:

Gagea has thin leaves of around 1-2 mm, at the base, which are glabrous. The pedicel is hairy. The bulb is surrounded by a brown tunic and a dense network of thin fibrous roots, often produced apically into a long collar (not revealed in the picture below).