Gagea nakaiana (yellow star-of-Bethlehem, "Kibananoamana")

Japanese name: キバナノアマナ （黄花甘菜）
Scientific name: Gagea nakaiana

[Overview]
A perennial 15–20 cm tall found in places such as sunny woodland edges and grasslands.
The aboveground parts die back around the rainy season, and it is dormant in summer.
Underground it has an ovate bulb 5–10 mm in diameter.
The outer coat of the bulb is brown to yellow.
Only one leaf grows from the base; it is linear, 15–22 cm long and 0.3–1 cm wide, and somewhat thick.
An umbel is borne at the tip of a flower stalk 15–20 cm tall, bearing 3–5 flowers.
The inflorescence has two bracts about as long as the inflorescence itself.
The flowers are bright yellow with 6 petals; the tepals are linear-oblong, 9–12 mm long.
There are 6 stamens.
The fruit is a capsule about 7 mm in diameter, spherical with 3 ridges.
The seeds have an appendage (elaiosome) that ants and other insects like, and they are dispersed by ants.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It prefers sun and humus-rich soil that is well drained and retains water well.
It dislikes heat and humidity, so in summer remove the withered leaves and move it to a cool, shaded, well-ventilated place.
During the growing period, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; during dormancy, water just enough that the bulbs do not dry out.
From after flowering until the aboveground parts wither, apply liquid fertilizer once a week.
Aphids are a pest that can occur.

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