Ornithogalum narbonense

Ornithogalum narbonense, common names Narbonne star-of-Bethlehem, pyramidal star-of-Bethlehem and southern star-of-Bethlehem, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant with underground bulbs, belonging to the genus Ornithogalum of the family Asparagaceae. The Latin name Ornithogalum of the genus, meaning "bird's milk", derives from the Greek, while the species name narbonense refers to the French town of Narbonne.

Ornithogalum narbonense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Tribe: Ornithogaleae
Genus: Ornithogalum
Species:
O. narbonense
Binomial name
Ornithogalum narbonense
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Eremurus iranicus Parsa
  • Loncomelos brachystachys (K.Koch) Speta
  • Loncomelos brachystylum (Zahar.) Speta
  • Loncomelos israelense Ravenna
  • Loncomelos narbonense (L.) Raf.
  • Loncomelos prasinantherum (Zahar.) Speta
  • Ornithogalum arabicum Brot. nom. illeg.
  • Ornithogalum brachystachys K.Koch
  • Ornithogalum brachystylum Zahar.
  • Ornithogalum densum Boiss. & Blanche
  • Ornithogalum lacteum Vill.
  • Ornithogalum monspeliense Gueldenst.
  • Ornithogalum prasinantherum Zahar.
  • Ornithogalum stachyoides Aiton
  • Ornithogalum trigynum Delile
  • Parthenostachys narbonensis (L.) Fourr.
  • Scilla montana Savi

Description

Ornithogalum narbonense reaches on average 40–50 centimetres (16–20 in) of height, with a maximum of 70 centimetres (28 in). The bulbs are whitish and ovoid. The stems are erect and the long leaves are fleshy and lance-shaped, 8–15 millimetres (0.31–0.59 in) wide. The raceme is pyramidal, with 25-75 hermaphrodite flowers. Each flower has a long bract of 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) and six star-shaped milky white petals bearing a pale green central vein, while the buds are oval, with longitudinal green and white stripes. The six stamens have a white filament holding yellow anthers of 4 millimetres (0.16 in). The flowers are pollinated by insects. The flowering period extends from May through June.

  • Inflorescence of Ornithogalum narbonense
  • Flowers of Ornithogalum narbonense
  • Close-up on a flower of Ornithogalum narbonense
  • Flowers of Ornithogalum narbonense
  • Flowers of Ornithogalum narbonense

Distribution

This species is present in the Mediterranean Basin, Armenia and northwestern Iran.

Habitat

This plant grows in fields and grassy and dry areas, in waste ground and in rocky terrains. In the south-east of its range it can be found at an altitude of 0–3,000 metres (0–9,843 ft) above sea level; in Crete at 0–1,150 metres (0–3,773 ft).

References
  1. The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 October 2016
  • Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982 Vol. III, pg. 372


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