Ornithogalum – Ornithogalum dubium

Common Name: Ornithogalum

Botanical Name: Ornithogalum dubium, or-ni-THOG-a-lum DOO-bee-um

Decorative Life: Up to 2 weeks in water alone.

Flower Color: Brown, Green, Orange, Red, White, Yellow

Availability: Spring

• Member of the Liliaceae (lily family).
• Native to South Africa (Cape Province).
• Common relatives onion, alstroemeria, hyacinth, tulip and star of Bethlehem.

• 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.

• 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.