Sternbergia is a genus of Eurasian and North African plants in the Amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae.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.Gage, Ewan; Wilkin, Paul; Chase, Mark W. & Hawkins, Julie (2011). "Phylogenetic systematics of Sternbergia (Amaryllidaceae) based on plastid and ITS sequence data". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 166 (2): 149–162. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2011.01138.x.Mathew, B. (1983). A Review of the Genus Sternbergia. The Plantsman 5: 1–16.Mathew, B. (1984). Sternbergia. In: Davis, PH, ed., Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 8: 360–364. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.Pasche E, Kerndorff, H. (2002). Die Gattung Sternbergia Waldst. & Kit.(Asparagales, Amaryllidaceae) im Vergleich, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der wiederentdeckten Sternbergia schubertii Schenk. Stapfia 80: 395–417.Atervista Flora Italiana, genere Sternbergia

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 contains a number of species of flowering bulbs which rather resemble Crocus. 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 and a single style attached to an inferior ovary. 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.Ünal, F., YÜzbaŞ? oǧlu, D., & Duman, H. (1997). Karyotyping in Sternbergia clusiana and S. colchiciflora (Amaryllidaceae) from Turkey. Hereditas, 126(3), 277-280.

Taxonomy Sternbergia lutea was first described in 1601 by Clusius, who included the plants in the genus Narcissus.Carolus Clusius. 1601. Rariarum plantarum historia Carl Linnaeus in 1753 regarded them as part of Amaryllis.Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Amaryllis. Species Plantarum 1:292-294 in Latin 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.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 recognizes eight species:, search for "Sternbergia"

Sternbergia candida B.Mathew & T.Baytop – Turkey Sternbergia clusiana (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 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 from Spain to Ukraine; Morocco, Algeria, Caucasus, Middle East Sternbergia lutea (L.) Ker Gawl. ex Spreng., including S. aurantiaca Dinsm., S. sicula Tineo ex Guss, S. greuteriana Kamari & R.Artelari – southern Europe from Spain to Balkans; Middle East, Caucasus, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan; naturalized in North Africa Sternbergia minoica Ravenna Autumn daffodil – Crete Sternbergia pulchella Boiss. & Blanche in P.E.Boissier – Syria, Lebanon Sternbergia schubertii Schenk – İzmir Province in western Turkey Sternbergia vernalis (Mill.) Gorer & J.H.Harvey, including S. fischeriana (Herb.) Roem. – Middle East, Caucasus, Central Asia

Formerly included Three names have been coined using the name Sternbergia but referring to species now considered better suited to other genera (Colchicum, Narcissus and Zephyranthes). 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.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 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