Photo: Guy Waterval · Apache License 2.0 ↗
| Scientific name | Ornithogalum magnum |
|---|---|
| Genus | Ornithogalum |
| Origin | Southern Europe, Mediterranean |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Region | Mediterranean |
Ornithogalum is a genus of perennial plants mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa belonging to the family Asparagaceae. Some species are native to other areas such as the Caucasus. Some species are classified as noxious invasive weeds in some portions of North America. Growing from a bulb, species have linear basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm (12 in) tall, bearing clusters of typically white star-shaped flowers, often striped with green. The common name of the genus, star-of-Bethlehem, is based on its star-shaped flowers, after the Star of Bethlehem that appears in the biblical account of the birth of Jesus.