Above: Star-of-Bethlehem along bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on May 23, 2022.
Star-of-Bethlehem - Ornithogalum umbellatum (Introduced garden escapee.) Potentially invasive.
Part of the Lily family, Star-of-Bethlehem has 6 white tepals, 6 stamens, and a single pistil. The white tepals are in a stellate, star shaped, pattern. The flowers open late in the day (hence some of its other common names). When closed the flowers have a green stripe on the outside (see image below).
Above: Star-of-Bethlehem near Agawa Path in Madison, Wisconsin on May 26, 2022.
For more information on Ornithogalum, visit Wikipedia.
Or, visit the: United States Forest Service website page on Star of Bethlehem as an invasive species.
Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Star of Bethlehem - Ornithogalum umbellatum.
Star-of-Bethlehem
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Above: Star-of-Bethlehem along bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin (5/23/22)
Above: Star-of-Bethlehem near Agawa Path in Madison, Wisconsin (5/27/22)
Above: Star-of-Bethlehem along bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin (5/27/22)
Above: 1796 Ornithogalum umbellatum botanical illustration.
Above: 1828 Ornithogalum umbellatum illustration by Christiaan Sepp.
Above: Leonardo da Vinci, Drawing of a botanical study, "Star of Bethlehem", Ornithogalum umbellatum. (late 15th - early 16th century)
Above: Leda and the Swan by Francesco Melzi after a lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci (1508 - 1515). Leda is holding Star of Bethlehem in her left hand.