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Ornithogalum umbellatum
  • Star Of Bethlehem

a member of the Ornithogalum genus in the family Liliaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Ornithogalum umbellatum has 0 edible uses listed
Ornithogalum umbellatum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Skin contact with the bulb can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[1]. The bulb contains alkaloids and is poisonous[2][3]. Another report says that the bulb is poisonous to grazing animals[4].

Edible uses

Notes

Bulb - raw or cooked[2][5][6][7][4]. The bulbs can be dried and ground into a powder[8]. Whilst the bulbs are palatable and wholesome according to some reports[2][9][10], some caution is advised. See the notes above on toxicity. Flowers - baked in bread[4].

Flowers

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Ornithogalum umbellatum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

A homeopathic remedy is made from the bulbs[9]. It is useful in the treatment of certain forms of cancer[9]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'After effect of shock, mental or physical'[11]. It is also one of the five ingredients in the 'Rescue remedy'[11].

Unknown part

Bach

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[12]. Sow the seed thinly and leave the seedlings undisturbed in the pots for their first dormancy, but apply liquid feed at intervals, especially in their second year of growth. Divide the bulbs at the end of their second year of growth, putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for one more year and them plant them out into their permanent positions whilst they are dormant. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in early spring. Division of offsets in September/October[12]. The larger bulbs can be replanted immediately into their permanent positions. It is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on for a year before planting them out when dormant in late summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Ornithogalum umbellatum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in an ordinary garden soil[13][14]. Tolerates partial shade[12].

Hardy to about -20°c[12]. The dormant bulbs are very hardy and will withstand soil temperatures down to at least -10°c[15].

A very ornamental plant[13], but it can be invasive where conditions suit it[12]. It can be naturalized in short turf or thin grass below shrubs[12], though this should not be mown from the time the bulbs start to grow until they have set seed and the leaves are dying down.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Ornithogalum umbellatum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Ornithogalum umbellatum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Genus
Ornithogalum
Family
Liliaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][5][6][7][4][8][9][10]
Medicinal uses
[9][11]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[16][12]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.3 x 0.15 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Insects, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    3. ? Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
    11. ? 11.011.111.2 Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. ISBN 85207 002 0 (1985-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.512.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    14. ? Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. (1938-00-00)
    15. ? Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 (1994-00-00)
    16. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)


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    Facts about "Ornithogalum umbellatum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLiliaceae +
    Belongs to genusOrnithogalum +
    Has binomial nameOrnithogalum umbellatum +
    Has common nameStar Of Bethlehem +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers + and Root +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Insects + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has mature width0.15 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useBach +
    Has search nameornithogalum umbellatum + and star of bethlehem +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameOrnithogalum umbellatum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Ornithogalum umbellatum +, Ornithogalum umbellatum + and Ornithogalum umbellatum +