By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



217 



Ornithogalum, (Linn.) Star of Bethlehem. 

 Linn. CI. vi. Ord. i. 

 Name, From onus, ornithos, (Gr.) a bird; and gala, (Gr.) milk. 

 Star of Bethlehem; from its abounding* in Palestine, where it is 

 used as food. 



1. O. umbellatum, (Linn.) umbelled or common Star of Bethlehem. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 130. -Reich Icones, x. 467. 



Locality. Meadows and pastures, and sites of old gardens. P. 

 El. May, June. Area, * 2. 3. 4. 5. 



South Division. 



2. South-middle District. " Neighbourhood of Westbury/' Miss 

 Overbury. 



3. South-west District. " Warminster/' Mr. Wheeler. 



North Division. 



4. North-west District. " Near Rudlow, Box, and Collet's 

 Bottom/' Mr. C. E. Broome. " Meadows near the tan yard, and by 

 the Pickwick road, at Corsham/' Dr. R. C. Prior. 



5. North-east District. Round way Hill, near Devizes. "First 

 field on the Kennet side of the Forest Hill/' Flor. Marlb. "Near 

 Great Bedwyn/' Mr. Bartlett. Probably an introduced plant in the 

 county. Stem 8 to 10 inches high. Leaves linear, accumulate, 

 grooved. Flowers large, lower pedicels very long, so that their 

 flowers reach to the same height with the upper ones thus forming a 

 corymb, each having a membranous lanceolate bractea. Segments 

 of the perianth green, with a white margin and white within. 



2. O. pyrenaicum, (Linn.) spiked Star of Bethlehem. Engh 

 Bot. t. 449. 



Locality. In woods and pastures. P. Fl. June. Area, 1. 2. 8. 

 4. 5. Frequently distributed throughout all the Districts. Bulb 

 ovate. Leaves long, linear, accuminate, channelled. Scape 1 

 to 2 feet long. Raceme elongated. Flowers much smaller than 

 in the last species, greenish white. This plant is very common in 

 the North-west District of the county, and large quantities of the 

 immature flowering" spikes are brought to the Bath Market by the 

 poor people in spring, where they arc sold in small bundles for the 



