Description
Intro: 1594. Star-of-Bethlehem, locally: 'booger'. Origin: large parts of Europe, North Africa, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. The linear, grooved and half-upright green leaves have a distinct white stripe. The umbel is composed of about twenty pure white star-shaped flowers with green stripes on the back of the petals that are hardly noticeable when the flowers are open wide. The flowers open in the afternoon and close in the evening.
BELONGS TO THE HYACINTHACEAE FAMILY
From the Greek: ornis (bird) and gala (milk). The genus Ornithogalum consists of a group of bulbous plants suitable for naturalization. The many species, as well as the cultivars, are certainly suitable as cut flowers.
They originate predominantly from the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The bulbs are said to be quite nutritious and tasty, naturally after being cooked.
