Ornithogalum saundersiae

Ornithogalum saundersiae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Scilloideae
Tribe:	Ornithogaleae
Genus:	Ornithogalum
Species:	O. saundersiae
Binomial name
	Ornithogalum saundersiae; Baker
Synonyms
	Galtonia saundersiae (Baker) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan; Ornithogalum excelsum Diels ex Engl.;

Ornithogalum saundersiae, or giant chincherinchee, is a species of Ornithogalum (star of Bethlehem) in the subfamily Scilloideae of family Asparagaceae.

Description[]

Ornithogalum saundersiae is a perennial, herbaceous bulbous plant. It reaches 30 to 100 cm. in height. The leaves measure 60 x 5 cm. and are less than half as long as the flower stem. The upper leaf surface is a shiny dark green. The inflorescence consists of numerous flowers and is conical. The flower stems are long. The tepals are white, 10 to 15 millimeters long. The ovary is a very dark green. The plant flowers from June to August.

Distribution and habitat[]

Ornithogalum saundersiae is found in South Africa in the Eastern Transvaal, Natal, and Swaziland. It grows best on rocky glades.

Uses[]

Sold as bulbs for ornamental garden flowers and as cut flowers.

Bibliography[]

Eckehardt J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (eds.): Rothmaler Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Band 5: Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8.
Gard. Chron. ser. 3, 16:452. 1894
"Ornithogalum saundersiae". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 7 December 2013.
Global plants

References[]

^ The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 October 2016

External links[]

Media related to Ornithogalum saundersiae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Ornithogalum saundersiae at Wikispecies

This Asparagaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 October 2016

[1]