Asparagus Family
Asparagus Family - Asparagaceae
The Ornithogalum species are a very difficult group to identify, with differences often subtle and often involving details of below-ground parts. Seven species have been recorded in Lesvos: boucheanum, gussonei, montanum, narbonense, nutans, pyrenaicum and umbellatum and not all are represent here as yet.
Common Butcher's-broom Ruscus aculeatus
Native across western and southern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East to the Caucasus. A distinctive, spiny, evergreen shrub that forms dense thickets of stiff, upright stems. A closer look reveals that the spine-tipped 'leaves' are actually flattened stems, which bear the flowers and berries at their centre.
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Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum pyrenaicum
Native throughout much of western and Central Europe to the Mediterranean Region and eastwards to Turkey and the Caucasus. Flowers smaller than those of Narbonne Star-of-Bethlehem and creamy or yellowish-white in colour.
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Narbonne Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum narbonense
Native throughout the Mediterranean Region and eastwards to Iran. A distinctive species, with delicate flowers on a tall, upright spike.
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Mountain Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum montanum
Native from Italy eastwards through the Balkans to the Caucasus and Middle East. Flowers 5-15 in an open head, leaves 3-7, spreading, at least as long as the height of the flower spike, relatively broad and without a white stripe. Bulb broadly ovoid.
Gussone's Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum gussonei differs in having green, thread-like basal leaves and a longer flowering scape. Common Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum differs in having thread-like basal leaves with a pale central stripe.
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Divergent Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum divergens
Native throughout much of central and southern Europe and the Mediterranean Region. Leaves more than 2mm wide, usually persistent at anthesis; leaves glabrous, with white central stripe. Bulb with numerous stipitate offsets; perianth segments 18-30mm; capsule obovoid-oblong, slightly angled.
(Sometimes included in the polyploid O. umbellatum complex as a form with relatively small, stipitate bulblets and slightly reflexed fruiting pedicels.)
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Drooping Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum nutans
Native from Bulgaria and Greece to Turkey.
Bouché's Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum boucheanum differs in having leaves shorter than the flower spike and a more compact spike due to shorter flower stalks.
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Eastern Sea Squill Drimia aphylla
Native from the Eastern Aegean Islands and Libya eastwards through Turkey and the Middle East to Iran. Produces a tuft of leaves that die down with the onset of summer and the flower spike appears in late summer/autumn.
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Eastern Alpine Squill Scilla nivalis
Native to the Black Sea Region and from the Eastern Aegean Islands through Turkey to the Levant and Caucasus. A relatively small, delicate species with rich, deep blue flowers usually carried 1-5 (occasionally up to 10) on a stalk. Leaves usually two; no bracts at the base of the flower pedicels.
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Autumn Squill Prospero autumnale
Native to Atlantic coasts of Europe and through the Mediterranean Region to the Caucasus. Flowers August to October.
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Three-leaved Bellevalia Bellevalia trifoliata
Native from southern France to Turkey and the Middle East.
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Common Grape-hyacinth Muscari neglectum
Native to most of Europe and the Mediterranean Region, eastwards to Central Asia.
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Dark Grape-hyacinth Muscari commutatum
Native to the South-eastern Mediterranean Region, from Italy to the Aegean Islands.
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Tassel Hyacinth Muscari comosum
(Muscari comosum) Native to central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, the Mediterranean Region and eastwards to Iran.
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Sharp-leaved Asparagus Asparagus acutifolius
Native throughout the Mediterranean Region. Frequent on rough and often stony ground.
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