Sternbergia candida is a bulbous flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae,[3] which is used as an ornamental. It has white flowers which appear in spring.

Sternbergia candida
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Sternbergia
Species:
S. candida
Binomial name
Sternbergia candida
B.Mathew & T.Baytop[2]

Description edit

Sternbergia candida is a rare plant which occurs only in south-west Turkey, where it grows at around 1100 m, on the edges of cedar woods. It was only discovered a few years before being named in 1979 (by Brian Mathew and Turhan Baytop). The slightly twisted grey-green leaves appear in late winter to early spring and are about 1 cm wide. White flowers follow the leaves, normally in January to February in their native habitat, on stems up to 20 cm. The flowers may be scented.[4]

Cultivation edit

Sternbergia candida is not reliably hardy in countries subject to frost and is then recommended for culture under the protection of at least a cold greenhouse or frame. It is propagated by bulb division.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  2. ^ "Sternbergia candida", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2011-09-20
  3. ^ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards) "Asparagales: Amaryllidoideae", Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, retrieved 2014-12-27
  4. ^ a b Mathew, Brian (1987), The Smaller Bulbs, London: B.T. Batsford, ISBN 978-0-7134-4922-8, p. 157–158