Star of Bethlehem (plant)

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The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of star-shaped white flowers striped with green. There are numerous members of the genus, of which O. umbellatum is perhaps the best-known:

O. arabicum, star of Bethlehem

O. dubium

O. longibracteatum, pregnant onion, false sea onion

O. nutans, drooping star of Bethlehem

O. narbonense, pyramidal star of Bethlehem

O. pyrenaicum, Prussian asparagus, spiked star of Bethlehem

O. umbellatum, sleepydick, common star of Bethlehem

O. thyroides, Chincherinchee

Because of its star-shaped flowers, it is named for the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus.

"Yellow star-of-Bethlehem" refers to plants of a different genus. See Gagea.

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