Ornithogalum umbellatum the garden star-of-Bethlehem, grass lily, nap-at-noon, or eleven-o'clock lady, a species of the genus Ornithogalum, is a perennial bulbous flowering plant in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). O. umbellatum is a relatively short plant, occurring in tufts of basal linear leaves, producing conspicuous white flowers, in a stellate pattern, in mid to late spring. The flowers open late in the day (hence some of its common names), but when closed have a green stripe on the outside. It is native throughout most of southern and central Europe, and north-western Africa. O. umbellatum is often grown as a garden ornamental, but in North America and other areas it has escaped cultivation and can be found in many areas, where it may become an invasive noxious weed. Parts of the plant are considered poisonous, but are used in some regional cuisines. Essences are also sold as patent remedies. O. umbellatum has been depicted in art by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, and folklore has suggested it originally grew from fragments of the star of Bethlehem, hence its horticultural name.
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-bethlehem -noon africa america areas asparagaceae asparagus basal bethlehem bulbous closed common considered conspicuous cuisines cultivation depicted eleven-o'clock escaped essences europe family flowering flowers folklore fragments garden genus grass green grew horticultural invasive lady late leaves leonardo lily linear mid name nap- native north north-western noxious originally ornamental ornithogalum parts patent pattern perennial plant poisonous producing regional remedies southern species spring star star- stellate stripe tufts umbellatum vinci weed white
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