Dove's Dung

I spotted this plant with its star-shaped flowers on the bank of the lake. I think it might be a star-of-Bethlehem. I was interested to read that other names for it are nap at noon, eleven o'clock lady, grass lily and dove's dung. Scholars have puzzled over the derivation of the Latin name. One possible explanation is that the "dove dung" mentioned in the Bible (II Kings 6:25) as being sold for five pieces of silver during a time of famine in Samaria could be the bulbs of this species. The bulbs apparently are edible though they contain heart stimulants with a digitalis-like reaction.    

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