Donate now to support the LLIFLE projects.
Your support is critical to our success.
Ornithogalum caudatum Aiton
Hort. Kew. [W. Aiton] 1: 442 1789.
Family: HYACINTHACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Taxon 58: 93 2009.

Ornithogalum caudatum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
False Sea Onionis This is a rather curious bulbous plant and unlike an true onion however, the bulb grows above ground, reaching up to 10 cm in diameter. Incidentally, the “onions” are decidedly NON-edible!

Synonyms:

See all synonyms of Albuca bracteata
back
Accepted name in llifle Database:
Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt
Taxon 58: 93 2009.
Synonymy: 14
back

Common Names include:
ENGLISH: German Onion, False Sea Onion, Pregnant Onion, Pregnant Onion Seeds, Sea Onion, Long-spiked Star of Bethlehem
CZECH (Čeština): Snědek ocasatý
RUSSIAN (Русский): Альбука прицветниковая
SPANISH (Español): falsa cebolla de mar

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Albuca bracteata group

  • Albuca bracteata (Thunb.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt: has green opalescent, exposed bulb with curious little bulblets, causing 'pregnant' looking bumps until the layer sloughs off to reveal the bulblets. Distribution: Suoth Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, and widespread northwards into tropical East Africa.
  • Ornithogalum caudatum Aiton: same as Albuca bracteata? distribution. Suoth Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, and widespread northwards into tropical East Africa.
  • Ornithogalum caudatum f. compact Kowie River: Compact form. Distribution: Kowie River.


11563 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Ornithogalum caudatum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
11561 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
The pregnant part is owed to its strange distinction of producing babies on the bulb scales. Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

11560 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Ornithogalum caudatum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
19439 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Ornithogalum caudatum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

18085 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Ornithogalum caudatum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
11562 valentino Valentino Vallicelli
Ornithogalum caudatum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli


Your Actions
Ornithogalum Back to Ornithogalum index
Hyacinthaceae Back to Hyacinthaceae index
Succulents Back to Succulents Encyclopedia index