Ornithogalum divergens
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| Ornithogalum divergens | |
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| In Cyprus | |
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| Close-up of flower | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Ornithogalum |
| Species: | O. divergens |
| Binomial name | |
| Ornithogalum divergens | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Ornithogalum divergens is a species of flowering plant in the star-of-Bethlehem genus Ornithogalum (family Asparagaceae). Native to central Europe and the Mediterranean region,[1] it is characterised by its flattened, oval-shaped bulb surrounded by numerous small bulbils, linear green leaves with a white central stripe, and flat-topped clusters of white flowers with green stripes on the back of each petal. The plant typically grows in cultivated areas, disturbed habitats, and river valleys, often in sandy lowland soils. It represents the hexaploid form of the Ornithogalum umbellatum complex, having 54 chromosomes compared to the 27 chromosomes of the triploid O. umbellatum.
Ornithogalum divergens is characterised by a flattened, oval-shaped bulb surrounded by numerous small bulbils—tiny secondary bulbs measuring about 5 to 8 mm in diameter. These bulbils grow on slender stalks (2–8 mm long) and are typically leafless, though occasionally they may produce small, weak leaves. The main leaves of the plant are linear, narrowing gradually towards the tip, smooth, and coloured green with a distinct white stripe running down their central length.[2]
The plant produces a broad, flat-topped cluster of flowers (known as a corymb), where the lower flower stalks (pedicels) are exceptionally long, spreading outwards or sometimes bending slightly downwards. Each flower is accompanied by small leafy structures (bracts) that are much shorter than the flower stalks beneath them, usually about half their length. The flowers themselves are relatively large, typically measuring between 35 and 45 mm across when fully open. Each flower has six elongated, white petals (tepals), usually about 23 to 28 mm long, each bearing a green stripe on the back.[2]
The fruit of O. divergens is a capsule—an oval to slightly rounded seed pod measuring approximately 11–18 mm long and 7–13 mm wide. It has a truncated (flattened) top and is marked by six evenly spaced ribs or ridges.[2]