Compilation
Ornithogalum umbellatum

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Name

Identification
Ornithogalum umbellatum L. [family ASPARAGACEAE ] (stored under name);
Related name
  • Brodiaea hyacinthina
  • Ornithogalum monticolum
  • Ornithogalum umbellatum
  • Triteleia hyacinthina
  • Ornithogalum alpestre
  • Ornithogalum angustifolium
  • Ornithogalum subalpinum
  • Ornithogalum sp.
  • Ornithogalum boraeanum
  • Ornithogalum tenuifolium
Common name
  • sleepy dick, Flora of North America Vol. 26
  • Nap-at-noon, Flora of North America Vol. 26

Flora

Entry for Ornithogalum umbellatum Linnaeus [family HYACINTHACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 26,
Names
Ornithogalum umbellatum Linnaeus [family HYACINTHACEAE], Sp. Pl., 1: 307. 1753
Treatment Author(s)
Gerald B. Straley†
Frederick H. Utech
Information
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
mar-may (spring)
Altitude range
0–1500 m;
Distribution
Europen AfricaAsiaMiddle Eastexpected elsewhere.USA Ala.USA Ark.USA Conn.USA Del.USA D.C.USA Ga.USA IdahoUSA Ill.USA Ind.USA IowaUSA Kans.USA Ky.USA La.USA MaineUSA Md.USA Mass.USA Mich.USA Miss.USA Mo.USA Nebr.USA N.H.USA N.J.USA N.Y.USA N.C.USA OhioUSA Okla.USA Oreg.USA Pa.USA R.I.USA S.C.USA S.Dak.USA Tenn.USA Tex.USA UtahUSA Vt.USA Va.USA Wash.USA W.Va.USA Wis.Canada B.C.Canada N.B.Canada Nfld. and Labr.(Nfld.)Canada N.S.Canada Ont.Canada Que.
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).
Native/Introduced
introduced;

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