Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. 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 numerous members of the genus, of which O. umbellatum is perhaps the best-known:

O. arabicum (Star-of-Bethlehem)

O. dubium (Yellow Chincherinchee)

O. longibracteatum (Pregnant Onion/False Sea Onion)

O. maculatum (Snake Flower)

O. narbonense (Pyramidal Star-of-Bethlehem)

O. nutans (Drooping Star-of-Bethlehem)

O. pyrenaicum (Bath Asparagus/Prussian Asparagus/Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem)

O. umbellatum (Common Star-of-Bethlehem)

O. thyroides (Chincherinchee)

 

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.

"Yellow star-of-Bethlehem" refers to plants of a different genus. See Gagea.

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Star of Bethlehem

 

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