Unknown Ornithogalum

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

This rather stunning Ornithogalum is in Otto's garden.  Very noticeable from a distance, and extremely striking up close.  The total height of the flowers is around 10 inches at the tallest.  Lovely elongated petals, white with green stripe on the reverse.  I have a few photos, but I think these capture pretty well the essence of the plants.  Anyone care to ID it for us?   Anything else I need to highlight (which I can perhaps show you by editing one of my photos)?

Thanks in anticipation?

[Michael]

I have no idea of the real name, but that plant is really stunning!

[art600]

Does it set seed? 

[Paul T]

Mike,

It's even more striking in person. 

Arthur,

Not as far as we know, but I know Lesley was hoping for some so Otto will likely keep an eye out for it.  I have a single bulb of it myself now, unfortunately minus the top growth as it was growing deeper than we expected.  It'll shoot next year I'm sure, but doubtful as to whether it will flower or not.  if/when mine does flower and if it sets seed I will gladly share with people, but it will be a couple of years at least I would think.

[WimB]

Could it be Ornithogalum fimbriatum?

[Maggi Young]

I think the flower stems are too large and full to be O. fimbriatum.... not that I am able to make a better suggestion.

[art600]

Possibly O. bungei?

[Paul T]

Wim and Maggi,

What information I can find on O. fimbriatum indicates is flowers at just above ground level...... the one in Otto's garden is about 10 inches at the tip of the highest flower.  While the flower does resemble it, the growth habit would indicate that it isn't that species.

Arthur,

Can't find much at all on O. bungei to compare.  Anyone else know it?

[Otto Fauser]

thank you , I will keep a close look for any developing seedheads,
     Otto.

[Paul T]

Otto,

I would be expecting it to set seed... it looks like the cut flowerhead I bought home is setting seed, although I don't expect it to mature successfully in a vase.  I think Lesley had first dibs on some, from the visit to your place.  Certainly was an impressive plant.... hopefully my decapitated bulb will shoot fine next year (which it should do just fine).

[WimB]

I don't know O. bungei but I read somewhere (I don't remember where) that O. fimbriatum can flower twice (once in winter and once in spring) and the second time it flowers on taller stems  but I'm really not sure.

[Paul T]

Wim,

I'd be interested to know what the definition of "taller stems" is.... these were all pretty uniform at the same height.  Otto would have to tell us whether it is a second flowering, but he didn't mention it at the time so I am thinking this is probably it's only flowering.  I think this is one of those Ornithogalum that just send up a single flower stem each, unlike things like dubia (for example) which send up a succession of flower stems over a long period of time.

[Lesley Cox]

I can agree heartily with Paul that it is a really beautiful plant, well worth any effort to obtain and grow. It stood out at a distance, even with all the other good things to see. I doubt if my pics show any more detail than Paul's but for the record, here they are.

[WimB]

I remembered were I read it:

here's the link:

http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Ornithogalum

It doesn't say what taller means so I cannot help you with that...
but it's probably a different species.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for that link Wim. Honestly, Otto's doesn't look like anythijng there. The flower stams were so thick and compact, solid flower so to speak.