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drooping star of Bethlehem, nodding star-of-Bethlehem

Habit Plants (15–)30–50(–60) cm; bulbs progressively renewed over 3–4 years, 2–3 × 2.5–3.5 cm; bulblets numerous.
Leaves

(3–)4–6;

blade with white adaxial stripe, 30–60 cm × (3–)5–10(–15) mm.

Scape

2–5 dm.

Inflorescences

racemose, 5–12(–18)-flowered, cylindrical;

bracts 3–4 cm.

Flowers

nodding, especially after anthesis;

perianth campanulate;

tepals white with wide green abaxial stripe, lanceolate, 20–30 × 9–12 mm, outer 3 slightly gibbous at base, inner 3 slightly wider;

stamens: outer 6–8 × 3–4 mm, inner 13–15 × 4–5 mm;

filaments 3-dentate, flattened;

anthers 3–4 mm;

ovary ovoid to subglobose, slightly 6-angled, 5–6 mm;

style 5–6 mm;

lower pedicels to 1 cm.

Capsules

broadly ovoid.

2n

= 45.

Ornithogalum nutans

Phenology Flowering spring.
Habitat Fields, waste places, abandoned gardens
Elevation 0–1500 m (0–4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CT; DC; DE; IL; MD; MI; MO; NC; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; VA; WV; ON; Europe; sw Asia; expected elsewhere [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Though widely cultivated and naturalized, Ornithogalum nutans is not as common as O. umbellatum.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 319.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Ornithogalum
Sibling taxa
O. umbellatum
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 308. (1753)
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