page_title: Ornithogalum
section_title: Uses
hierarchical_section_title: Ornithogalum / Uses
caption_attribution_description: English: Vase of flower stems of Ornithogalum thyrsoides
context_page_description: Ornithogalum is a genus of perennial plants mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa belonging to the family Asparagaceae. Some species are native to other areas such as the Caucasus. Growing from a bulb, species have linear basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of typically white star-shaped flowers, often striped with green. The common name of the genus, Star-of-Bethlehem, is based on its star-shaped flowers, after the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in the biblical account of the birth of Jesus. The number of species has varied considerably, depending on authority, from 50 to 300.
context_section_description: Ornithogalum species may be sold as cut flowers, particularly O. arabicum, O. dubium,  O. saundersiae, and O.thyrsoides. They are also sold as ornamental garden flowers.
caption: Vase of cut Ornithogalum thyrsoides flower stems
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