Short Description
The garden star-of-Bethlehem reaches a height of between 10 and 30 centimetres.
The green leaves are long, narrow (linear) and fleshy. They have a white central stripe. They appear to come directly from the ground (basal) and arise from the underground bulb.
The stem grows upright.
The flowers have six petals arranged in a star shape. The petals are white and have a green central stripe on their back. Each plant has up to 15 flowers in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence.
The fruits are three-part, fleshy capsules.
Features
Garden star-of-Bethlehem
Ornithogalum umbellatum
poisonous
white, star-shaped flowers
In the city
The garden star-of-Bethlehem prefers nutrient-rich clay soils. It is often found in parks, orchards and on tree pits. It is rather scattered, but where it grows there are often large stands.
Fun Facts
The flowers only open in sunshine.
The seeds have an oil body for dispersal by ants.
The leaves are shaped like a channel and thus lead water to the roots.
The flowering period is from April to May.
It lives for several years and generally flowers and fruits annually (perennial plant).
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
The garden star-of-Bethlehem originates from the Mediterranean region. It is widespread throughout Germany.
The whole plant, but especially the bulb, is poisonous and causes heart problems.
Sources
Habitus, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ornithogalum_umbellatum_001.JPG
Blüte, Isidre blanc, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ORNITHOGALUM_UMBELLATUM_-_TORÀ_-_IB-744_(Llet_de_gallina).JPG
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Blüten, Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ornithogalum_umbellatum_12.JPG
Kammer, P. M. (2016) Pflanzen einfach bestimmen. Schritt für Schritt einheimische Arten kennenlernen, Bern: Haupt Verlag.
Schauer, T., Caspari, C. & Caspari, S. (2015) Der illustrierte BLV-Pflanzenführer für unterwegs. 1150 Blumen, Gräser, Bäume und Sträucher, München: BLV.
Spohn, M., Golte-Bechtle, M. & Spohn, R. (2015) Was blüht denn da? Stuttgart: Franckh Kosmos Verlag.
Page „Dolden-Milchstern“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 05.05.2018, 17:01 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dolden-Milchstern&oldid=177173067 (Accessed: 16.08.2018).