Ornithogalum

Ornithogalum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Tribe: Ornithogaleae
Genus: Ornithogalum
L.[1]
Type species
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Species

See text.

Synonyms[2]
List
    • Albucea Rchb.
    • Aspasia Salisb.
    • Avonsera Speta
    • Beryllis Salisb.
    • Brizophile Salisb. nom. superfl.
    • Caruelia Parl.
    • Cathissa Salisb.
    • Celsia Heist. ex Fabr. nom. illeg.
    • Eliokarmos Raf.
    • Elsiea F.M.Leight.
    • Eustachys Salisb. nom. illeg.
    • Fenelonia Raf.
    • Galtonia Decne.
    • ×Honogalum Holub
    • Honorius Gray
    • Ifuon Raf.
    • Lomaresis Raf.
    • Loncomelos Raf.
    • Loncoxis Raf.
    • Melomphis Raf.
    • Myanthe Salisb.
    • Myogalum Link
    • Neopatersonia Schönland
    • Nicipe Raf.
    • Parthenostachys Fourr.
    • Phaeocles Salisb.
    • Raphelingia Dumort.
    • Raxamaris Raf.
    • Tomoxis Raf.
    • Tritriela Raf.
    • Virdika Adans.
Linnaeus' description of Ornithogalum 1753

Ornithogalum is a genus of perennial plants mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa[3] belonging to the family Asparagaceae. Some species are native to other areas such as the Caucasus.[4] Some species are classified as noxious invasive weeds in some portions of North America. Growing from a bulb, species have linear basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of typically white star-shaped flowers, often striped with green. The common name of the genus, star-of-Bethlehem, is based on its star-shaped flowers, after the Star of Bethlehem that appears in the biblical account of the birth of Jesus. The number of species has varied considerably, depending on authority, from 50 to 300.

  1. ^ Linnaeus 1753, Vol. 1. Hexandria Monogynia pp. 306–308.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference POWO_30000299-2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Ornithogalum Linnaeus". Flora of North America vol. 26. www.eFlora.org. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Ornithogalum L". Ornamental Plants From Russia. www.eFlora.org. Retrieved 12 April 2015.