ORNITHOGALUM L.STAR OF BETHLEHEM

ORNITHOGALUM L. - STAR OF BETHLEHEM

Scientific Description:

Bulbous perennials, sometimes with offsets or bulblets. Scape usually evident, sometimes ± absent. Leaves basal, horizontal or erect, with or without a white line on upper surface. Flowers usually 5 or more, conspicuously bracteate in a corymbose or cylindrical raceme, rarely (l−)2−3 together. Perianth segments usually white inside, more rarely pale yellow, white with a green fascia outside or rarely entirely white. Stamens, 6, filaments usually simple, dorsifixed, dil­ated below, more rarely winged and toothed near top. Anthers versatile. Ovary globose, green, yellowish or purplish-black. Fruit an obconical loculicidal capsule, generally with 3 or 6 angles which are sometimes winged. Seeds numerous, irregular, globose or flattened.

Reference:
Cullen J (1984). Ornithogalum L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 227.

Public Description:

Ornithogalum, known as “star of Bethlehem”, is native to southern Europe, Türkiye, Caucasus and southern Africa. There are approximately 190 species in the world and 61 species (62 taxa) in Türkiye.

The term “Ornithogalum” or “Ornitogalon” in old French, is derived from two Greek words, “ornithos (bird)” and “gala (milk)”, and is thought to be related to the white colour of the flowers. They are bulbous, perennial and herbaceous plants, usually bearing white star-shaped flower clusters. Some species are used as cut flowers or garden ornamental plants. Some of the plants in the genus are poisonous, and have been known to kill grazing animals, others are edible and used as vegetables.

The bulbs contain toxic alkaloids and cardenolides.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithogalum, Accessed date: 21.02.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Asparagaceae/Ornithogalum/, Accessed date: 21.02.2016.

Uysal T (2012). Ornithogalum L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 100–104.