Gagea minima [Little Star-of-Bethlehem]

[nfoto]

Rørslett, B. 2013. Gagea minima (L.)Ker Gawl. (Liliaceae). Little Star-of-Bethlehem. Flowers photographed in visible and ultraviolet light. http://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php?/topic/99-gagea-minima-little-star-of-bethlehem/

 

Gagea minima (L.)Ker Gawl.

NO: Smågullstjerne

SE: Dvärgvårlök

DK: Liden Guldstjerne

FI: Pikkukäenrieska

DE: Kleiner Goldstern

 

A small, narrow-leaved species flowering early in spring, G. minima is native to Central and Eastern Europe and becomes a rare plant towards the North.Like the other members of this genus, it survives to the next spring by its subterranean bulbs. Its main habitat is open, rich soils in parks and forest edges.

 

Specimens photographed in Oslo, Norway, 21 Apr 2010.

 

Image reference: GAGE_MIN_I1004211564_VIS.jpg

Visible light. Nikon D200, UV-Nikkor 105 mm f/4.5 lens, Baader UV/IR Cut filter.

 

Image reference: GAGE_MIN_I1004212303_UV.jpg

Ultraviolet light. Nikon D40X, UV-Nikkor 105 mm f/4.5 lens, Baader U 2" (Venus) filter, SBB-140 flash.

 

The UV marks are strongly developed, but unlike those of G. pratensis they are not equally well visible to the naked eye.

 

[Published 4 Feb 2013]