365 Urban Species. #141: Star-of-Bethlehem

[urbpan]

Urban species #141: Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum

Let me start out by telling you that I don't like the name of this plant. It's a specific religious reference for one, and for two, it's just plain cumbersome. But the alternate common name for this plant is "sleepydick," so let's just go ahead and stick with "star-of-Bethlehem." Star-of-Bethlehem is named for its star-shaped flowers, which have six petals arranged roughly in a star shape. It is not clear to me whether it is significant or not, that the star in question is six-pointed, like the Star of David.

This plant is native to the Mediterranean and was brought to North America as an ornamental. Before it flowers, its thin leaves can easily be mistaken for a robust grass, or the foliage of an onion plant. It actually is a relative of the onion (and chive, and garlic; all members of the lily family) but the white oval bulb it produces is poisonous, as are all parts of the plant. Star-of-Bethlehem has become naturalized in all of the northern United States, and is considered a weed, particularly of grassy lawns, but is not considered especially invasive.




The grass-like foliage of the plant, growing along a fenceline.

Comments

[maybethecat.livejournal.com]

i think the sleepydick plants look a bit limp

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

I love this plant. There was a patch of them that grew in the empty lot several houses away from my house as a kid. I would look forward to them every year. They are one of my earliest plant memories.

The Dutch common name for Ornthogalum is Vogelmelk, which means Bird Bilk. I like this name better than either of the English alternatives.

[momomom.livejournal.com]

I have bulbs of it, I love it too. I'd be happy to mail some to you if you could use them.

[bezigebij.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's so sweet of you and I would gladly accept...but I'm in Europe and I'm not really sure if that would fly with customs.

I have some good, affordable bulb suppliers here, from whom I even get a discount with my business, so really, I should just order some next spring. :)

I see that you are also an avid gardener and that we generally have a lot of common interests(just checked out your journal). Mind if I add?

[by-steph.livejournal.com]

I found this plant on a hike in Iowa in early April. I was with some children that REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY OMGSOH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN I pick some. It was the only thing growing at that time. I let each one pick a bloom but I made them fertilize another flower with the one they picked. When I got home, I tried to find this plant in a North American wildflower guide to see how bad of an environmentalist I am. I couldn't find it so I was hoping it wasn't native. Thank you. I am guilt-free now.

Have you heard of the reef fish slippery dick?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

It has a bulb, as well, so all the picking in the world probably won't kill it. You should bring the kids to a nice patch of garlic mustard!

Have you heard of the reef fish slippery dick?

No, but I've heard of snapper, and chub.

[perigee.livejournal.com]

Hi there.

I'm here by way of Metafilter, which just linked your lovely journal. I'll add you to my friends list so I get daily updates, I hope that's all right with you.

Today's a slow day at work, so I'm using lunch time to go back into your posts.

I would venture to guess that the plant is called Star of David because of the 6 points. I remember learning in some science/biology class or perhaps through my biochemist Dad that most flowers have odd numbers of petals, so 6 petals would be significant.

I'll try to come up with a citation later if you like, if indeed that lore can be substantiated.

Your pictures make me miss the Boston area. I lived there for 3 years and enjoyed it very much, even the big-ass blizzard.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Hello and welcome! I hope you enjoy reading through the archives.

I didn't find that "star of david" was used as a common name for this plant, which would have made sense.

[perigee.livejournal.com]

Oh, duh, you're right. It is Star of Bethlehem, most certainly. A survey of Google images of stars of bethlehem that are contemporary shows that the majority of the renderings have 4 or 8 points, not 6. I wonder...

I can't easily find any history of the nomenclature, so I guess we're out of luck. If I find something later, I'll note it here.

[matthewdh.livejournal.com]

you know the passion fruit also gets its name from a specific religious reference

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

But the name isn't cumbersome, at least. It does, however, give the impression that the fruit tastes better than it does.