Gagea pratensis
Local name: Gagée des prés, Gagée à pétales étroits
Gagea pratensis, called the yellow star-of-Bethlehem, is a European and Mediterranean plant species in the lily family. It is widespread across much of Europe as well as Turkey and Morocco.
35
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagea_pratensis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Liliales
Family
Liliaceae
Genus
Gagea
Gagea pratensis belongs to the family Liliaceae, order Liliales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Gagea pratensis, called the yellow star-of-Bethlehem, is a European and Mediterranean plant species in the lily family. It is widespread across much of Europe as well as Turkey and Morocco. It was first described to science by Persoon in 1794.
Gagea pratensis faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development of its grassland habitats. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in traditional land management practices that maintained the open, nutrient-poor grasslands it requires for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Gagea pratensis faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development of its grassland habitats. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in traditional land management practices that maintained the open, nutrient-poor grasslands it requires for survival.
Agricultural intensification and conversion of grasslands
Urban development and habitat fragmentation
Changes in traditional grazing practices
Climate change affecting flowering and reproduction cycles
Eutrophication from fertilizer use
Found in 35 Countries
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Gagea pratensis (Gagea pratensis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/gagee-des-pres-gagee-a-petales-etroits