| Ornithogalum | |
|---|---|
| Ornithogalum narbonense | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| clade: | Angiosperms |
| clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Ornithogalum L. |
| Species | |
|
See text. |
|
Ornithogalum is a genus of perennial plants mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa[1] belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. There are some species native to other areas such as the Caucasus.[2] Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of star-shaped white flowers striped with green. There are about 150 species, of which the best known are O. umbellatum, O. saundersii, O. arabicum and O. thyrsoides. [3]
Because of its star-shaped flowers, it is named for the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus.
Other species of Ornithogalum include:
Ornithogalum saundersii (syn. O. saundersiae) was named after Charles Saunders
Some of the plants in the genus are poisonous, and have been known to kill grazing animals. Others are edible and used as vegetables. These flowers' bulbs contain alkaloids and cardenolides,[1] which are toxic.