Ornithogalum saundersiae

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

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
Synonyms[1]
  • Galtonia saundersiae (Baker) Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & Juan
  • Ornithogalum excelsum Diels ex Engl.

Description

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


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