Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

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Ornithogalum umbellatum L.

star-of-Bethlehem (Asparagaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadModerate tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Ornithogalum umbellatum grows in grasslands across Great Britain and parts of Ireland; the lower flowers have longer stalks, producing a subcorymbose inflorescence.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2018-05-12

 star-of-Bethlehem / Ornithogalum umbellatum: _Ornithogalum umbellatum_ grows in grasslands across Great Britain and parts of Ireland; the lower flowers have longer stalks, producing a subcorymbose inflorescence.

As well as the more frequent O. umbellatum subsp. umbellatum, a second subspecies (O. umbellatum subsp. campestre = Ornithogalum angustifolium) has fewer, smaller flowers; it may be native to parts of England.

Bibury (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2020-02-05

 star-of-Bethlehem / Ornithogalum umbellatum: As well as the more frequent _O. umbellatum_ subsp. _umbellatum_, a second subspecies (_O. umbellatum_ subsp. _campestre_ = _Ornithogalum angustifolium_) has fewer, smaller flowers; it may be native to parts of England.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne