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Flowers |
Flower Facts | Chincherinchee |
Chincherinchee
Name: Also known as
Ornithogalum and Star of Bethlehem. The Greeks used the term "bird's milk"
ornithos (bird) and gala (milk) to describe something incredible. The South Africans
know them as "tjenkenrientjee" which is where the odd English name chincherinchee
comes from. Description: Their flowers, bell and star-shaped, are showy and sometimes very fragrant . They bloom individually in circles carried at the top of leafless stems. Origin: Ornithogalum thyrsoides is native to South Africa and the Ornithogalum umbellatum is native to the Mediterranean. Colour: Usually white but also yellow and orange. Availability: All year round. Family: They belong to the Liliaceae (lily) family and grow from bulbs. Varieties: The best known is Ornithogalum thyrsoides. Ornithogalum umbellatum has larger star-shaped white flowers and narrow leaves. This variety's most eye-catching feature is the beautiful green stripe on each flower. The flower shown here is Ornithogalum arabicum (sometimes called the Star of Bethlehem), which has a long stem with a distinctive umbrella of waxy white flowers carrying a green-black ovary in the centre. Ornithogalum dubium is a lovely clear orange shade, and has cup-shaped flowers. Care Tips: Sometimes called a "florist's nightmare" because they have such a long vase life. They can easily last a whole month.
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