Ornithogalum nutans, known as drooping star-of-Bethlehem,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Europe and South West Asia. It is a bulbous perennial growing to 20–60 cm (8–24 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) wide, with strap-shaped leaves and green striped, pendent grey-white flowers in spring.[3] It is cultivated, and has naturalized, outside its native range, for example in North America.[4][5] It has become extremely invasive along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Maryland. At least in North America, it is not as common as Ornithogalum umbellatum.[4]

Ornithogalum nutans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Scilloideae
Tribe: Ornithogaleae
Genus: Ornithogalum
Species:
O. nutans
Binomial name
Ornithogalum nutans
Synonyms[1]
list
  • Albucea chlorantha Rchb.
    • Albucea neapolitana Montandon
    • Albucea nutans (L.) Rchb.
    • Brizophila nutans (L.) Salisb. nom. inval.
    • Honorius nutans (L.) Gray
    • Honorius prasandrus (Griseb.) Holub
    • Hyacinthus myogalea E.H.L.Krause
    • Ifuon nutans (L.) Raf.
    • Myogalum affine K.Koch & C.D.Bouché
    • Myogalum nutans (L.) Link
    • Myogalum prasandrum (Griseb.) Walp.
    • Myogalum thirkeanum K.Koch
    • Ornithogalum asernii Velen.
    • Ornithogalum chloranthum Saut. ex W.D.J.Koch nom. illeg.
    • Ornithogalum prasandrum Griseb.

The specific epithet nutans means "nodding", referring to the flowers' slightly drooping habit.[6]

O. nutans is hardy to USDA Zones 6–10.[7] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8][9]

References edit

  1. ^ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 October 2016
  2. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  4. ^ a b "Ornithogalum nutans Linnaeus". Flora of North America.
  5. ^ "Ornithogalum nutans Linnaeus". Flora of Missouri.
  6. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  7. ^ Easy to grow Bulbs: Ornithogalum nutans
  8. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Ornithogalum nutans". Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  9. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 70. Retrieved 14 April 2018.