Common name: Star of Bethlehem
Ornithogalum umbellatum L. APNI*
Description: Erect herb, 0.15–0.4 m high; bulb subterranean, 1–3.5 cm diam.; offsets (bulbils) present.
with bulbils present inside outer jacket.
Leaves 6–9, flat or channelled, to 30 cm long, to 6 mm wide. Inflorescence corymb-like with 6–20 flowers, longer than leaves; bracts shorter than flowers; lower pedicels to 10 cm long. Tepals 15–20 mm long, white with a green stripe on outer surface. Staminal filaments aristate to acuminate. Ovary ovoid to obovoid.
Capsule oblong to obovoid, 10 mm long; apex obtuse.
Flowering: September–October
Distribution and occurrence: Commonly cultivated; occasionally naturalized; recorded for Orange, Wallendbeen, Burrumbuttock and Gerogery West districts; also *Vic. Native of Mediterranean region, Alps and Appenines. Grows in low-lying or swampy grassland and as a weed in crops.
NSW subdivisions: *CT, *CWS, *SWS
Other Australian states: *Vic. *S.A.
Text by D. C. Godden (1993); edited KL Wilson (Oct 2010) Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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