Bath Asparagus, Spiked Star of Bethlehem, French Asparagus, Prussian asparagus
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum
Family: Asparagaceae
What it is like
A medium to tall bulb plant. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are slender and green and like asparagus in young bud. There are 5-8 narrow leaves. They have slight channels along them. They have a pale stripe down the middle. The flowers are pale yellowish-green. They are 13-17 mm long and star shaped. They are in long slender spike like clusters.
There are about 80 Ornithogalum species. Also put in the family Liliaceae and Hyacinthaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in open woodland and rocky places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Britain, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Spain, Yugoslavia
How it is used for food
The young flowering shoots can be eaten like asparagus.
Edible parts
Shoots, leaves, blossoms, flowers