Tikang oo (Yellow Star of Bethlehem)

Gagea lutea (Yellow Star of Bethlehem)

Vernacular name: Tikang oo  (in Kinnauri)

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Gagea lutea (L.) Ker Gawl. (Liliaceae), commonly known as Yellow Star of Bethlehem and Tikang oo in Kinnauri, is a bulbous geophyte—a plant that survives adverse seasons (like winter or drought) through underground storage organs such as bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes. It is native to the temperate regions of Europe expanding its distribution upto Japan in Asia, typically found at elevations between 2000 and 4300 meters. Gagea lutea (Yellow Star of Bethlehem) gets its name from its yellow flowers and star-shaped petals.

Evolution of Gagea species:

While Gagea species are known to evolve through polyploidy and hybridization, only recently have scientists used molecular data to trace the origin of this genus. These studies show that Gagea most likely originated in West Asia including parts of Anatolia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and southern Kazakhstan. The genus first evolved in these regions in the Early Miocene period. Later, Gagea spread to the Mediterranean region and to East Asia (especially Japan) during the Middle Miocene, and reached Euro-Siberia in the Late Miocene.

Think on this:

Unfortunately, there is not much research available on this plant, which also reflects a broader trend in the natural sciences: Scientific attention often focuses on species with direct medicinal, agricultural, or economic value. Yet, some of the most meaningful discoveries begin with simple curiosity, and there is great value in studying life not for what it offers us, but for what it reveals about the complexity of our wonderful world!

References

Peterson, A., Harpke, D., Peterson, J., Harpke, A., & Peruzzi, L. (2019). A pre‐Miocene Irano‐Turanian cradle: Origin and diversification of the species‐rich monocot genus Gagea (Liliaceae). Ecology and Evolution, 9(10), 5870-5890.

Check this link for a short video on this species: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJgV9PLT1Ga/?igsh=MTk3dzVvaGFsYzMxaA%3D%3D