Star of Bethlehem (plant)

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The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of star-shaped white flowers striped with green. There are numerous members of the genus, of which O. umbellatum is perhaps the best-known:

O. arabicum , Star of Bethlehem

O. dubium

O. longibracteatum , pregnant onion, false sea onion

O. nutans

O. narbonense

O. umbellatum , sleepydick, Star of Bethlehem

Because of its star-shaped flowers, it is named for the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus.

Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem refers to plants of a different genus. See Gagea.