Ingeborg

By Ingeborg

Star of Bethlehem

Another flower I find irresistible, Ornithogalum or Star of Bethlehem, so named after the starry white flowers, reminding people of the Star of Betlehem. Our local supermarket seems to have a special delivery of uncommon 'supermarket' flowers on Mondays (which is not the best day for flowers really, as they will have been in a closed supermarket over the Sunday).
Although I should know better I did buy a bunch of them yesterday and waited for the sun to shine today to photograph one of them in natural light. I'm not cmpletely sure whether this is Ornithogalum Arabicum or Ornithogalum Saundersiae, the latter has very long stalks, which these at home have too.

Explanation of the name :Ornithogalum = 'Ornis' = bird; 'galos' = milk; so this part means Bird's milk. (Greek);
arabicum = Arabian; originating from/ related to Arabia (Latin) while Saundersiae probably means a Mr Saunders discovered or named this variety .
Other common names besides Star of Bethlehem are Cape Lily, Arabian starflower and Arab's Eye and Chincherinchee (which apparently refers to the sound the drying seedpods make)

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