''Sternbergia'' is a genus of

Eurasia Eurasia ( , ) is a continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. According to some geographers, Physical geography, physiographically, Eurasia is a single supercontinent. The concept of Europe and Asia as distinct continents d ...

n and

North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

n plants in the

Amaryllis family The Amaryllidaceae are a family of herbaceous, mainly perennial and bulbous (rarely rhizomatous) flowering plants in the monocot order Asparagales. The family takes its name from the genus ''Amaryllis'' and is commonly known as the amaryllis fam ...

, subfamily

Amaryllidoideae Amaryllidoideae (Amaryllidaceae ''s.s.'', amaryllids) is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Amaryllidaceae, Order (biology), order Asparagales. The most recent Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, APG classification, A ...

.Waldstein, Franz de Paula Adam von & Kitaibel, Pál. 1804. Descriptiones et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae 2: 172 The genus comprises eight recognised species that show a broad distribution throughout the Mediterranean Basin as well as central and southwestern

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

Description

Vegetative characteristics

''Sternbergia'' are small, bulbous,Grey Wilson, C. (2024).
Alpines: The Complete Gardener's Guide.
�Vereinigtes Königreich: Crowood Press. perennial plantsThe European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass.
p. 199. (2011). Vereinigtes Königreich: Cambridge University Press. with tunicate bulbs and linear to strap-shaped leaves.Ellis, B. W. (2001).
Taylor's Guide to Bulbs: How to Select and Grow 480 Species of Spring and Summer Bulbs.
p. 385. USA: Houghton Mifflin. The membranous tunics are black or brown.

Generative characteristics

Sternbergia lutea showing the different parts of the flower

''Sternbergia'' contains a number of species of flowering

bulbs In botany, a bulb is a short underground stem with fleshy leaves or leaf basesBell, A.D. 1997. ''Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. that function as food storage organs during ...

which rather resemble ''

Crocus ''Crocus'' (; plural: crocuses or croci) is a genus of seasonal flowering plants in the family Iridaceae (iris family) comprising about 100 species of perennial plant, perennials growing from corms. They are low growing plants, whose flower stem ...

''. These plants produce golden-yellow goblet-shaped flowers borne on stalks some way above the ground that open during the autumn or early winter. The flower is composed of six

stamens The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filamen ...

and a single

style Style, or styles may refer to: Film and television * ''Style'' (2001 film), a Hindi film starring Sharman Joshi, Riya Sen, Sahil Khan and Shilpi Mudgal * ''Style'' (2002 film), a Tamil drama film * ''Style'' (2004 film), a Burmese film * '' ...

attached to an

inferior ovary In the flowering plants, an ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or gynoecium. Specifically, it is the part of the pistil which holds the ovule(s) and is located above or below or at the point of connection with the ba ...

. Long, strap-like leaves may appear with the flowers or sometime after. The only two exceptions to this are '' S. vernalis'' and '' S. candida'' which flower in the spring, with ''S. candida'' producing striking white flowers. The genus has gained notability due to the widespread use of one of its species, ''S. lutea'', as a garden plant. This species has been found in cultivation for several hundred years, and has become naturalised in many parts of northern Europe, well beyond its natural range.

Cytology

The chromosome count is 2n = 20 or 2n = 22.Lorenzo, P., Benedetto, C. D., Aquaro, G., & Caparelli, K. F. (2008)
The genus ''Sternbergia'' Waldst. & Kit.(Amaryllidaceae) in Italy. Contribution to the cytotaxonomical and morpho-anatomical knowledge.
Caryologia, 61(1), 107-113.

Taxonomy

Sternbergia lutea ''Sternbergia lutea'', the winter daffodil, autumn daffodil, fall daffodil, lily-of-the-field, or yellow autumn crocus, is a bulbous flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, in the Narcisseae tribe, which is used ...

'' was first described in 1601 by Clusius, who included the plants in the genus ''

Narcissus Narcissus may refer to: Biology * ''Narcissus'' (plant), a genus containing daffodils and others People * Narcissus (mythology), Greek mythological character * Narcissus (wrestler) (2nd century), assassin of the Roman emperor Commodus * Tiberius ...

''.

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

in 1753 regarded them as part of ''

Amaryllis ''Amaryllis'' () is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae (tribe Amaryllideae). It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, '' Amaryllis belladonna'', is a native of the Western Cape region of ...

''. It was not until 1825 that the species was transferred to ''Sternbergia,''Ker Gawler, John Bellenden ex Sprengel, Curt Polycarp Joachim. 1825. Systema Vegetabilium, editio decima sexta 2: 57
in Latin using the generic name coined in 1804.

Etymology

The genus name ''Sternbergia'' honours the botanist

Kaspar Maria von Sternberg Count Kaspar Maria von Sternberg (also: ''Caspar Maria'', ''Count Sternberg'', , ; 6 January 1761 – 20 December 1838) was a Bohemian aristocrat, theologian, mineralogist, geognost, entomologist and botanist. He is known as the "Father of Paleo ...

.''Sternbergia lutea''. (2022, October 14). Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/the-garden/plant-list/sternbergia-lutea/''Sternbergia lutea''. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c751

Species

, the

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (usually abbreviated to WCSP) was an "international collaborative programme that provides the latest peer reviewed and published opinions on the accepted scientific names and synonyms of selected p ...

recognizes eight species:, search for "Sternbergia" *'' Sternbergia candida'' B.Mathew & T.Baytop -

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

*''

Sternbergia clusiana ''Sternbergia clusiana'' is a bulbous flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae,Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards"Asparagales: Amaryllidoideae" ''Angiosperm Phylogeny Website'', retrieved 2014-12-27 which is sometimes used ...

'' (Ker Gawl.) Ker Gawl. ex Spreng., including ''S. grandiflora'' Boiss. ex Baker, ''S. latifolia'' Boiss. & Hausskn. ex Baker, ''S. macrantha'' (J.Gay) J.Gay ex Baker, ''S. sparffiordiana'' Dinsm., ''S. stipitata'' Boiss. & Hausskn. - Aegean Islands,

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

*'' Sternbergia colchiciflora'' Waldst. & Kit., including ''S. alexandrae'' Sosn., ''S. citrina'' (Herb.) Ker Gawl. ex Schult. & Schult.f., ''S. etnensis'' (Raf.) Guss., ''S. exscapa'' Tineo in G.Gussone - southern + southeastern

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

from

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

;

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising parts of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus Mountains, i ...

*''

'' (L.) Ker Gawl. ex Spreng., including ''S. aurantiaca'' Dinsm., ''S. sicula'' Tineo ex Guss, ''S. greuteriana'' Kamari & R.Artelari - southern Europe from

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

;

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...

Tajikistan Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...

; naturalized in

*'' Sternbergia minoica'' Ravenna Autumn daffodil -

Crete Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...

*'' Sternbergia pulchella'' Boiss. & Blanche in P.E.Boissier -

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

*'' Sternbergia schubertii'' Schenk -

İzmir Province İzmir Province () is a province and metropolitan municipality of Turkey in western Anatolia, situated along the Aegean coast. Its capital is the city of İzmir, which is in itself composed of the province's central 11 districts out of 30 in to ...

in western

*''

Sternbergia vernalis ''Sternbergia vernalis'' is a bulbous flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae,Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards"Asparagales: Amaryllidoideae" ''Angiosperm Phylogeny Website'', retrieved 2014-12-27 which is sometimes used ...

'' (Mill.) Gorer & J.H.Harvey, including ''S. fischeriana'' (Herb.) Roem. -

Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...

;formerly included Three names have been coined using the name ''Sternbergia'' but referring to species now considered better suited to other genera ''(

Colchicum ''Colchicum'' ( or ) is a genus of perennial plant, perennial flowering plants containing around 160 species which grow from bulb-like corms. It is a member of the botanical family (biology), family Colchicaceae, and is native plant, native to ...

and

Zephyranthes ''Zephyranthes'' is a genus of temperate and tropical bulbous plants in the Amaryllidaceae, Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to the Americas and widely cultivated as ornamentals. Following the expansion of the genus in ...

).'' We provide links to help you find appropriate information. * ''Sternbergia americana - Zephyranthes americana'' * ''Sternbergia caucasica - Colchicum trigynum'' * ''Sternbergia exigua - Narcissus cavanillesii''

Conservation

The trade of ''Sternbergia'' is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, as it is included in the

CITES Appendix II CITES (shorter acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of inte ...

.''Sternbergia''. (n.d.). Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://cites.org/eng/taxonomy/term/7945 The

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...

conservation status of ''Sternbergia pulchella'' is Data Deficient (DD).El Zein, H., Semaan, M., Bou Dagher Kharrat, M. & Lansdown, R.V. 2018. ''Sternbergia pulchella''. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T13147429A18610073. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T13147429A18610073.en. Accessed on 10 February 2025.

References

External links

Pacific Bulb Society: Sternbergia
{{Authority control Amaryllidaceae genera Amaryllidoideae