Cape Milky Star
| Cape Milky Star | ||||||||||||
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Cape Milky Star ( Ornithogalum thyrsoides ) |
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| Ornithogalum thyrsoides | ||||||||||||
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The Cape Milchstern ( Ornithogalum thyrsoides ) is a plant from the family of asparagus plants (Asparagaceae).
description
The Cape Milky Star is a perennial , herbaceous bulb plant that usually reaches heights of 20 to 50 centimeters. The 6 to 12 leaves are ciliate on the edge and up to 4 (rarely up to 5) centimeters wide. The inflorescence is conical-rounded and 12 to 40 flowers. The flowers are 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter. The tepals are 10 to 20 millimeters long, translucent and whitish and have no green stripe on the underside. They have a dark green, yellow bordered spot on the bottom. The stamens of the inner stamens suddenly widen at the base and around the ovary curved. The style is as long as the ovary.
The flowering period extends from June to August.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 12.
Occurrence
The Cape Milky Star occurs in South Africa in the Cape Province on sand.
use
The Cape Milky Star is rarely used as an ornamental plant for summer borders and as a long-lasting cut flower . It has been in culture since 1605 at the latest. There are some varieties with white, cream yellow, ocher yellow, yellow and golden yellow flowers.
literature
- Eckehart J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (eds.): Rothmaler excursion flora from Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants . Spectrum Academic Publishing House, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8 .
