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Ornithogalum
Also called Star Of Bethlehems, Chincherinchees
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. The number of species has varied considerably, depending on authority, from 50 to 300.
Some of the plants in the genus are poisonous, and have been known to kill grazing animals. Others are edible and used as vegetables. The bulbs contain various toxic alkaloids and steroids.
Ornithogalum has been listed as one of the 38 plants used to prepare Bach flower remedies, a kind of alternative medicine promoted for its effect on health. However, according to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer".
When the genus is broadly circumscribed, as for example by Plants of the World Online, species are widely distributed over several continents including Africa (other than the tropics), Madagascar, Europe, and temperate Asia (as far as Afghanistan).
Ornithogalum species may be sold as cut flowers, particularly O. arabicum, O. dubium, O. saundersiae, and O.thyrsoides. They are also sold as ornamental garden flowers.
Star Of Bethlehem · North Leaning Star · Arabian Starflower · Brotero's Star Of Bethlehem · Summer Hyacinth · Divergent Star Of Bethlehem · Gold Chincherinchee · Gabrielyan's Starflowers · Ornithogalum libanoticum · Ornithogalum maculatum · Bath Asparagus · Drooping star of Bethlehem
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ornithogalum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
