PLATE CCLXXIV. 



ORNITHOGALUM LACTEUM. 



Large IV/iite-Jiozvered Star of Bethlehem, 



CLASS VI. ORDER L 

 HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Corolla 6-petala, erefta, perfiftens, fupra me- 

 dium patens. Filamenta bail dilatata. 

 Capfula 3-locularis. Semina fubrotunda, 

 nuda. 



Blossom fi-petals, upright, remaining, fpread- 

 ing above the middle. Threads widened at 

 the bafe. Capfule 3 -celled. Seeds round- 

 illi, naked. 



See Ornithogalum odoratum. PI, CCLX. 

 Vol. IV. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Ornithogalum racemo longo; filamentis fubu- 

 latis, alternis fub-lanceolatisj brsfleis mem- 

 branaceis, ovatis, pedunculo diiplo bre- 

 vioribus; foliis lanceolatis, acutis, ad oras 

 villofis; floribus albidis. 



Star of Bethlehem with a long flower fpike; 

 threads awl-(haped, alternate ones nearly 

 lance- fliaped; flower props Ikinny, egg- 

 lliaped, twice as fliort as the fruit-flalk; 

 leaves lance-lhaped, acute, finely haired at 

 the edges J flowers white. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. One of the Flower-props. 



2. The Chives and pointal, the petals being removed. 



3. The Seed bud, Shaft, and Summit. 



This fine fpecies of Star of Bethlehem, from the Cape of Good Hope, was first introduced to Britain, 

 from thence by Lady Miller, of Froyle Place near Alton, Hampfhire, in the year 1 7QQ. It is a ycry 

 hardy bulb, but does not flower every year, in this country. It will live with a very llight protection 

 from the feverelt frofts in winter; fliould be planted in fandy loam; kept rather dry after the decay of 

 the leaves; and only removed from its pot to renew theearth. It propagates by the root, and flowers in 

 July. Our drawing \\as made from a plant which had been received from the Cape, in the Hibber- 

 tian Collection. 



