# Forest Yellowstar (Gagea lutea)

**Swedish: Vårlök | English: Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem | Family: Lily family (Liliaceae)**

The forest yellowstar (*Gagea lutea*), called **Vårlök** (spring onion) in Swedish, marks the awakening of nature after the long northern Swedish winter.

Its bright yellow, six-shoot star flowers only open when the sun is shining. As a geophyte, it survives most of the year as a bulb deep in the humus-rich forest floor.

## FAQs

- **When does the forest yellowstar bloom in Sweden?**: Very early in April and May, right after the last snow cover has thawed.
- **Why is it called Vårlök in Swedish?**: Vårlök means 'spring onion' because it sprouts from a small underground bulb.
- **What color flowers does Vårlök show?**: Bright yellow on the inside and greenish stripes on the outside.
- **Is the forest yellow star poisonous?**: Yes, the bulbs and leaves contain small amounts of alkaloids and should not be eaten.
- **Where does the plant retreat to in summer?**: As early as June, the leaves turn completely yellow and the bulb rests in the ground until the next spring.
- **Where can you find him in Burträsk?**: In moist deciduous forest strips along streams and humus-rich groves.


## Weitere Informationen

- Botanical illustration: Forest Yellowstar (Gagea lutea), in Swedish'Vårlök'.
- The first herald of spring from the north. Its yellow star flowers appear immediately after the snow melts.