Star-of-Bethlehem-Ornithogalum umbellatum L.-Poisonous plant

Star-of-Bethlehem

Other names:

Common star of Bethlehem, Ten o'clock lady, Summer snowflake, Sleepy dick, Nap at noon, Jack go to bed at noon, Eleven o'clock lady, Love's dung

General poisoning notes:

Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), an outdoor ornamental flower, contains glycosides similar to digitalis. In some countries children have been poisoned after ingesting the flowers or bulbs. Ingesting two bulbs by an adult caused shortness of breath. The bulbs contain the highest quantity of these toxins. Cattle in South Africa (the native region for star-of-Bethlehem) have been poisoned, resulting in permanent blindness and death after ingestion. Children and family pets should be prevented from ingesting material from this plant (Cooper and Johnson 1984, Lampe and McCann 1985, Spoerke and Smolinske 1990).

Description

Plants (10–)20–30(–40) cm; bulbs renewed each year, 1–2 × 1–2.5(–3.5) cm; bulblets numerous. Leaves 4–6(–9); blade with white adaxial stripe, 20–30 cm × 3–5(–8) mm. Scape 1–3 dm. Inflorescences corymbose, (4–)8–20-flowered, flat-topped; bracts to 4 cm. Flowers erect; perianth opening flat or bowl-shaped in sun, closing at night, remaining closed on cloudy days; tepals white with wide green abaxial stripe, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 15–22(–30) × 7–8 mm; stamens: outer 5–7 × 2–3 mm, inner 6–8 × 2–3 mm; filaments simple, flattened; anthers 2–4 mm; ovary ovoid to obovoid, strongly 6-angled, 5–6 mm; style 3–4 mm; lower pedicels 2–6 cm. Capsules oblong-ovoid. 2n = 18, 20, 27, 28, 35, 36, 42, 44, 45, 54, 72, 90, 108.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum L.

Vernacular name(s): star-of-Bethlehem

Scientific family name: Liliaceae

Vernacular family name: lily

Geographic Information

Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.

Toxic parts:

Bulbs, flowers.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Two digitalis-like glycosides, convallatoxin and convalloside, are found through the plant but are concentrated in the bulbs and the flowers (Lampe and McCann 1985).

Toxic plant chemicals:

Convallatoxin, convalloside.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

Diarrhea, nausea.

Notes on poisoning:

Symptoms of ingestion include pain in the mouth, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Stomach lavage or use of emetics is recommended (Cooper and Johnson 1984, Lampe and McCann 1985).