Ornithogalum narbonense L. Pyramidal Star of Bethlehem

Ornithogalum narbonense L. - Pyramidal Star of Bethlehem

Scientific Description:

Scape to 80(−100) cm. Leaves several, linear, to 16 mm broad, shorter than scape, usually persistent, margin entire to denticulate. Raceme cylindrical, with 25−75 flowers. Perianth segments 10−16 mm, white inside, white with a broad or narrow green fascia outside, connivent and twisted together after anthesis. Fruiting pedicels to 40 mm, strictly erect. Capsule ovoid or ovoid cylindrical.

 

Flowering time: May−June

Habitat: Slopes, fields, roadsides, waste places, s.l.−3000 m.

 

Reference:
Cullen J (1984). Ornithogalum narbonense L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 233.

Public Description:

Ornithogalum narbonense, known as “pyramidal star-of-Bethlehem”, is distributed in Mediterranean Basin, Armenia and northwestern Iran. The Latin name “Ornithogalum” of the Genus, meaning "bird's milk", derives from the Greek, while the species name “narbonense” refers to the French town of “Narbonne”. It is a herbaceous perennial plant with white colour flowers and can be reach up to 80 cm (rarely 1 m long). Under the soil there are small bulbs in white color. The flowers are arranged in a cylindrical cluster on a thin and erect stem. Leaves arising from the base are long and fleshy. In some regions of Anatolia, the leaves of this species and other “star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum L.)” species are used for making meals and patties.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithogalum_narbonense, Accessed date: 24.02.2016.

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.