The Urban Pantheist

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.

( Some more sleepydick )