Ornithogalum umbellatum

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 307. 1753.

Common names: Nap-at-noon sleepy dick
IntroducedIllustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 317. Mentioned on page 319.

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.


Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Roadsides, open forests, waste places, dumps
Elevation: 0–1500 m

Distribution

V26 638-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; B.C., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., Que., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Europe, n Africa, Asia, Middle East, expected elsewhere.

Discussion

Planted as a garden ornamental, Ornithogalum umbellatum produces many offsetting bulblets that are transported in soil and can become rampant weeds. Adding to the vegetative vigor of this species may be its aneuploid-polyploid karyology (T. W. J. Gadella and L. van Raamsdonk 1981; L. van Raamsdonk 1984). The flowers are noteworthy for their regularity in opening just before noon and closing again before sunset.

Two digitalis-like glycosides, convallatoxin and convalloside, poisonous to humans and livestock, are found throughout the plant, but are concentrated in the bulbs and the flowers (W. H. Blackwell 1990; K. F. Lampe and M. A. McCann 1985; D. G. Spoerke Jr. and S. C. Smolinske 1990).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Ornithogalum umbellatum"
Gerald B. Straley† +  and Frederick H. Utech +
Linnaeus +
Nap-at-noon +  and sleepy dick +
B.C. +, N.B. +, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.) +, N.S. +, Ont. +, Que. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Conn. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Ga. +, Idaho +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Maine +, Md. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Nebr. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Oreg. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, S.C. +, S.Dak. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Vt. +, Va. +, Wash. +, W.Va. +, Wis. +, Europe +, n Africa +, Asia +, Middle East +  and expected elsewhere. +
0–1500 m +
Roadsides, open forests, waste places, dumps +
Flowering spring. +
W2 +, W1 +, Introduced +  and Illustrated +
Ornithogalum umbellatum +
Ornithogalum +
species +