219 Species in Genus Ornithogalum

Table of Contents

Ornithogalum: A Starry Obsession

My fascination with the genus Ornithogalum began quite unexpectedly. I was wandering through a local nursery, overwhelmed by the riot of colors and textures, when a cluster of delicate, star-shaped blooms caught my eye. They were unassuming, almost shy, yet possessed an undeniable charm. The label read “Star of Bethlehem,” and I was smitten. This simple encounter sparked a deep dive into the world of Ornithogalum, a genus that continues to captivate me with its diversity and understated beauty.

What is Ornithogalum?

Ornithogalum is a genus of bulbous flowering plants belonging to the family Asparagaceae. The name, derived from the Greek words “ornis” (bird) and “gala” (milk), is somewhat enigmatic. Some speculate it refers to the white color of the flowers, while others believe it alludes to an ancient expression of incredulous delight. Whatever the origin, the name Ornithogalum encompasses a diverse array of species, each with its own unique characteristics.

These plants are predominantly native to southern Europe and southern Africa, but their distribution extends to other regions, including the Caucasus. They are characterized by their basal leaves and star-shaped flowers, which typically range in color from white to cream, with some species boasting vibrant yellow or orange hues.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Ornithogalum is surprisingly large, with over 200 recognized species:

Ornithogalum abyssinicum Fresen.
Ornithogalum adamii J.C.Manning
Ornithogalum adanense Demirci & E.Kaya
Ornithogalum adseptentrionesvergentulum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum aetfatense U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum alatepense Yıld. & Kılıç
Ornithogalum alatum Turrill
Ornithogalum alpigenum Stapf
Ornithogalum amblyocarpum Zahar.
Ornithogalum amphibolum Zahar.
Ornithogalum amplificatum (Speta) Aslan
Ornithogalum anamurense Speta
Ornithogalum anatolicum Zahar.
Ornithogalum anguinum F.M.Leight. ex Oberm.
Ornithogalum annae-ameliae U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum apiculatum Zahar.
Ornithogalum arabicum L.
Ornithogalum arcuatum Steven
Ornithogalum arianum Lipsky
Ornithogalum armeniacum Baker
Ornithogalum atticum Boiss. & Heldr.
Ornithogalum baeticum Boiss.
Ornithogalum balansae Boiss.
Ornithogalum baurii Baker
Ornithogalum benguellense Baker
Ornithogalum beyazoglui Bagci, Savran & O.D.Düșen
Ornithogalum bicornutum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum boissieri Bidarlord & F.Ghahrem.
Ornithogalum boucheanum (Kunth) Asch.
Ornithogalum bourgaeanum Jord. & Fourr.
Ornithogalum brevipedicellatum Boiss. ex Baker
Ornithogalum britteniae F.M.Leight. ex Oberm.
Ornithogalum broteroi M.Laínz
Ornithogalum bungei Boiss.
Ornithogalum campanulatum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum candicans (Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum capillaris J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans
Ornithogalum ceresianum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum chetikianum Uysal, Ertugrul & Dural
Ornithogalum chionophilum Holmboe
Ornithogalum ciliiferum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum collinum Guss.
Ornithogalum comosum L.
Ornithogalum concinnum Salisb.
Ornithogalum conicum Jacq.
Ornithogalum constrictum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum convallarioides H.Perrier
Ornithogalum corsicum Jord. & Fourr.
Ornithogalum corticatum Mart.-Azorín
Ornithogalum craibii (Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo, M.Pinter & Wetschnig) J.C.Manning
Ornithogalum creticum Zahar.
Ornithogalum cuspidatum Bertol.
Ornithogalum dalmaticum Speta
Ornithogalum decus-montium G.Will.
Ornithogalum × degenianum Polg.
Ornithogalum deltoideum Baker
Ornithogalum demirizianum H.Malyer & Koyuncu
Ornithogalum diphyllum Baker
Ornithogalum divergens Boreau
Ornithogalum dolichopharynx U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum dregeanum Kunth
Ornithogalum dubium Houtt. Plant FAQs: Ornithogalum Dubium – Sun Star – Star of Bethlehem
Ornithogalum erichpaschei (Speta) Uysal & Ertugrul
Ornithogalum esterhuyseniae Oberm.
Ornithogalum euxinum Speta
Ornithogalum exaratum Zahar.
Ornithogalum exscapum Ten.
Ornithogalum falcatum (G.J.Lewis) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum filicaule J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum fimbriatum Willd.
Ornithogalum fimbrimarginatum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum fischerianum Krasch.
Ornithogalum fissurisedulum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum flexuosum (Thunb.) U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum fuscescens Boiss. & Gaill.
Ornithogalum gabrielianiae Agapova
Ornithogalum gambosanum Baker
Ornithogalum geniculatum Oberm.
Ornithogalum gorenflotii (Moret) Speta
Ornithogalum graciliflorum K.Koch
Ornithogalum gracillimum R.E.Fr.
Ornithogalum graecum Zahar.
Ornithogalum graminifolium Thunb.
Ornithogalum gregorianum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum × gugliae Widder
Ornithogalum gulnariense Demir. & Uysal
Ornithogalum gussonei Ten.
Ornithogalum haalenbergense U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum hajastanum Agapova
Ornithogalum hallii Oberm.
Ornithogalum harbrum Haloob & Qader
Ornithogalum hispidulum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum hispidum Hornem.
Ornithogalum hyrcanum Grossh.
Ornithogalum imereticum Sosn.
Ornithogalum immaculatum Speta
Ornithogalum improbum Speta
Ornithogalum inclusum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum insulare Kypr., E.Antal. & Tzanoud.
Ornithogalum iranicum Zahar.
Ornithogalum iraqense Feinbrun
Ornithogalum isauricum O.D.Düsen & Sümbül
Ornithogalum joschtiae Speta
Ornithogalum juncifolium Jacq.
Ornithogalum khuzestanicum Heidaryan, Hamdi & Assadi
Ornithogalum kilicii Yıld.
Ornithogalum kuereanum Speta
Ornithogalum kurdicum Bornm.
Ornithogalum lanceolatum Labill.
Ornithogalum leeupoortense U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum libanoticum Boiss.
Ornithogalum lithopsoides van Jaarsv.
Ornithogalum longicollum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum luschanii Stapf
Ornithogalum lychnite Speta
Ornithogalum macrum Speta
Ornithogalum maculatum Jacq.
Ornithogalum magnum Krasch. & Schischk.
Ornithogalum malatyanum Mutlu
Ornithogalum marivanense Maroofi & Ghaderi
Ornithogalum mater-familias U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum mekselinae Varol
Ornithogalum microcarpum Speta
Ornithogalum monophyllum Baker
Ornithogalum montanum Cirillo
Ornithogalum multifolium Baker
Ornithogalum munzurense Speta
Ornithogalum mysum Speta
Ornithogalum nallihanense Yıld. & Doğru-Koca
Ornithogalum namaquanulum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum nanodes F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum narbonense L.
Ornithogalum navaschinii Agapova
Ornithogalum naviculum W.F.Barker ex Oberm.
Ornithogalum naxense Strid
Ornithogalum neopatersonia J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum neurostegium Boiss. & C.I.Blanche
Ornithogalum nitidum Yıld. & Kılıç
Ornithogalum nivale Boiss.
Ornithogalum niveum Aiton
Ornithogalum nurdaniae Bagci & Savran
Ornithogalum nutans L.
Ornithogalum ocellatum Speta
Ornithogalum oligophyllum E.D.Clarke
Ornithogalum oreoides Zahar.
Ornithogalum orthophyllum Ten.
Ornithogalum ostrovicense F.K.Mey.
Ornithogalum paludosum Baker
Ornithogalum pamphylicum O.D.Düsen & Sümbül
Ornithogalum pascheanum Speta
Ornithogalum pedicellare Boiss. & Kotschy
Ornithogalum pendens van Jaarsv.
Ornithogalum perdurans A.P.Dold & S.A.Hammer
Ornithogalum persicum Hausskn. ex Bornm.
Ornithogalum pilosum L.f.
Ornithogalum plurifolium Yıld. & Kılıç
Ornithogalum pluttulum Speta
Ornithogalum polyphyllum Jacq.
Ornithogalum ponticum Zahar.
Ornithogalum prasinantherum Zahar.
Ornithogalum princeps (Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum pruinosum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum puberulum Oberm.
Ornithogalum pullatum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum pumilum Zahar.
Ornithogalum pycnanthum Wendelbo
Ornithogalum pyramidale L.
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum L.
Ornithogalum rausii (Speta) Danin
Ornithogalum refractum Willd.
Ornithogalum regale (Hilliard & B.L.Burtt) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum reverchonii Lange ex Willk.
Ornithogalum richtersveldense van Jaarsv.
Ornithogalum rogersii Baker
Ornithogalum rosulatum (Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo, A.P.Dold, M.Pinter & Wetschnig) J.C.Manning
Ornithogalum rotatum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum rupestre L.f.
Ornithogalum saginatum Speta
Ornithogalum samariae Zahar.
Ornithogalum sanandajense Maroofi
Ornithogalum sancakense Yıld. & Kılıç
Ornithogalum sandrasicum Yıld.
Ornithogalum sardienii van Jaarsv.
Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker
Ornithogalum sephtonii Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
Ornithogalum sessiliflorum Desf.
Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn & Sint.
Ornithogalum sintenisii Freyn
Ornithogalum sorgerae Wittmann
Ornithogalum spetae Wittmann
Ornithogalum sphaerocarpum A.Kern.
Ornithogalum sphaerolobum Zahar.
Ornithogalum subcoriaceum L.Bolus
Ornithogalum sumbulianum O.D.Düsen & Deniz
Ornithogalum synadelphicum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum tanquanum (Mart.-Azorín & M.B.Crespo) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum tardum (Speta) Uysal & Ertugrul
Ornithogalum televirnum Speta
Ornithogalum thermophilum F.M.Leight.
Ornithogalum thunbergii Kunth
Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jacq.
Ornithogalum transcaucasicum Miscz. ex Grossh.
Ornithogalum trichophyllum Boiss.
Ornithogalum tropicale Baker
Ornithogalum ulixis (Speta) Raus
Ornithogalum uluense Speta
Ornithogalum umbellatum L.
Ornithogalum umbratile Tornad. & Garbari
Ornithogalum vasakii Speta
Ornithogalum verae U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies
Ornithogalum viridiflorum (I.Verd.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Ornithogalum visianicum Tomm.
Ornithogalum vulgare Sailer
Ornithogalum wiedemannii Boiss.
Ornithogalum × wildtii Podp.
Ornithogalum woronowii Krasch.
Ornithogalum xanthochlorum Baker
Ornithogalum yildirimlii Kılıç
Ornithogalum zebrinellum U.Müll.-Doblies & D.Müll.-Doblies

More Than Just a Pretty Face

While Ornithogalum species are primarily cultivated for their ornamental value, they also hold cultural and historical significance. In some cultures, Ornithogalum umbellatum is associated with purity and hope, often used in religious ceremonies and wedding bouquets.

It’s important to note that some Ornithogalum species contain toxic compounds, particularly in the bulbs. While they have been used in traditional medicine, caution is advised as ingestion can cause gastrointestinal distress and other adverse effects.

My Ornithogalum Journey

My initial encounter with Ornithogalum umbellatum led me to cultivate several species in my own garden. I’ve been captivated by the subtle variations in flower shape, size, and color. The way the petals shimmer in the sunlight, the delicate fragrance that wafts through the air – these are the moments that solidify my appreciation for this remarkable genus.

I’ve also become fascinated by the challenges of cultivating different Ornithogalum species. Some, like Ornithogalum dubium, require specific conditions to thrive, while others, like Ornithogalum umbellatum, are surprisingly adaptable. Each species presents a unique learning opportunity, adding another layer to my Ornithogalum journey.

Looking Ahead

My exploration of the Ornithogalum genus is far from over. I’m eager to learn more about the lesser-known species, to experiment with different cultivation techniques, and to delve deeper into the cultural and historical significance of these fascinating plants.

The world of Ornithogalum is vast and full of surprises. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious novice, I encourage you to discover the beauty and diversity of this often-overlooked genus. You might just find yourself, like me, falling under the spell of its starry charm.