Ornithogalum


1 entry found.
Picture of Ornithogalum Ornithogalum
Common Name: Ornithogalum
Botanical Name: Ornithogalum dubium (or-ni-THOG-a-lum DOO-bee-um)
Decorative Life: Up to 2 weeks in water alone.
Post Harvest Care:
  • Remove bottom leaves if present, recut stems under water and place into a fresh flower food solution or tap water containing bleach (6-8 drops per quart) as fresh flower foods are not necessary, buds continue to open in water alone.
  • Flower stem bending when placed horizontal (geotropism) is a problem with all members of this genus. Applying calcium chelators such as EDTA and/or using one of the anti-ethylene action products (MCP of STS) can reduce this bending. To the contrary, ethylene synthesis inhibitors such as AOA or AVG had no effect on bending.
Family Roots:
  • Member of the Liliaceae (lily family).
  • Native to South Africa (Cape Province).
  • Common relatives onion, alstroemeria, hyacinth, tulip and star of Bethlehem.
Personality:
  • Has 25 or more star-like flowers, 1 inch across, in dome-shaped clusters at stem ends.
  • Stems (scape) leafless, 8-12 inches long.
  • Plant is a herbaceous perennial from a bulb, classed as a monocotyledon, leaves mostly parallel veined.
  • Mild flower fragrance.
Availability: Late spring.
Flower Color: Yellow to orange, red and rarely white sometimes tinged green or brown at base.
Tidbits:
  • From the Greek "ornis" (a bird) and "gala" (milk), probably alluding to the egg-like color of the flowers of some species.
  • The specific epithet name dubium means doubtful or dubious. Maybe suggesting that should not be named in the same genus as star-of-Bethlehem because flowers are not really egg-white!
  • With over 3000 species, the lily family includes many medicinal and food species in addition to ornamental species.