Ornithogalum sigmoideumFreyn & Sint. Star of Bethlehem

Ornithogalum sigmoideumFreyn & Sint. - Star of Bethlehem

Scientific Description:

Scapes very short, to 10 cm. Leaves numerous, exceeding scapes, linear, (1−)2−5 mm broad, with a white line on upper surface; margins entire, glabrous. Raceme elongate-corymbose, with usually 3−6 flowers. Perianth segments (12−)14−18 mm, white inside, white with a green fascia outside. Fruiting pedicels 16−25 mm (rarely longer), sharply deflexed, thickened at their bases, turning upwards at their apices, holding the capsule ± erect. Capsule narrowly winged.

Flowering Time: March−June.
Habitat: Forests, meadows, open stony slopes, s.l.−2600 m.

Reference:
Cullen J (1984). Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 239.

Public Description:

Ornithogalum sigmoideum, known as “star of Bethlehem”, grows naturally in Türkiye, the Balkans, Romania, North Iran, and the Caucasus. This species, which is usually shorter than 20 cm, is a perennial, herbaceous plant with bulbs under the soil. It has linear leaves at the soil level and bears green lines on its white flowers. It blooms in March and June and is usually distributed in the forests.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2017). http://vanherbaryum.yyu.edu.tr/flora/azortandir/ornithogalumsi/index.htm/Accessed date: 14.03.2017.

Anonymous 2 (2017). http://wildflowersofskopelos.org.uk/White/Pages/Ornithogalum_sigmoideum.html/Accessed date: 14.03.2017.

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.