ORNITHOG^ALUM EXSCA'PUM. 
STEMLESS STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 
Class. Order. 
HEXANDRIA. monogynia. 
Natural Order. 
ASPHODELACE/E. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Introduced 
Italy. 
3 inches. 
iMay & June, 
Bulb. 
in 1820. 
No. 732. 
The name of this genus has been handed down 
from the Greeks, and a meaning is ascribed to it by 
the moderns, but apparently too ridiculous for us 
to suppose that it explains the intentions of the an- 
cients. The word is said to have been deduced 
from ORNis, a bird ; and gala, milk, from the col- 
our of its flowers being like the milk found in eggs. 
The species is called scapeless, a term used, we 
presume, comparatively, just as Gentianella is called 
acaulis. Its English name is equally unexplica- 
ble, not one species having been introduced from, 
or known to be a native of, Judea. 
Little attention appears to be paid to the rather 
numerous species of ornithogalum, some of which 
are very ornamental, although not displaying gaiety 
of colours, most of them being pure white. Many 
of them are however. Cape bulbs, and require the 
protection of the greenhouse, where extensive col- 
lections of bulbs are rarely met with, unless it be of 
the Amaryllideae. In the south of England this 
plant bears full exposure, but more northerly, must 
be protected in a cold frame during winter. Should 
be potted in sandy peat and loam. 
