Ornithogalum umbellatum

Ornithogalum umbellatum  - Star of Bethlehem - Gewone vogelmelk -Leche de gallina - Ornithogale en ombelle - Dolden-Milchstern
English: Star of Bethlehem - Grass Lily - Nap-at-noon - Eleven-o'clock Lady
Nederlands: Gewone vogelmelk
Español: Leche de gallina - Leche de pájaro
Français: Ornithogale en ombelle - Dame d'onze heures
Deutsch: Dolden-Milchstern - Stern von Bethlehem

Family: Liliaceae - Lily family
Flowering time: April-June
Height: 10-30cm
Altitude: to 1600m
Colour: white
Habitat: grassy and cultivated land, fallow or waste land, rocky slopes, garrigue
Distribution: native throughout most of central and southern Europe
Synonym: Ornithogalum angustifolium







Notes: Like most species of Ornithogalum the flowers open widely in bright sunshine and remain closed in dull wheather. This toxic plant has been introduced as a garden plant and naturalized in Ireland, Scandinavia and Great Britain. In the Netherlands it is called a ´stinsenplant´. This are species that were planted on the estates of country houses, vicarage gardens and orchards ages ago and have managed to maintain themselves in their new habitat. In this country two subspecies are distinguished: Ornithogalum umbellatum subsp. campestre and Ornithogalum umbellatum subsp. umbellatum

Related key words: Hyacinthaceae, Asparagaceae, Koevlak Kennemerland, naturalized cultivar, stinsenplant, Stinsenplanze, plantes castrales, Alpujarras, Cádiar, Sierra de Huétor, Granada, Andalucía, Andalusië