Ornithogalum BB sp ? thyrsoides

This accession of the genus Ornithogalum (Asparagaceae) is likely to be Ornithogalum thyrsoides, the chincherinchee, though this is not fully confirmed. Native to South Africa, where it grows in the Cape fynbos, this bulbous plant produces about half a dozen fleshy, lance-shaped leaves, 15 to 30 cm long, which die back after flowering. From spring to early summer, a leafless stem bears a dense, cone-shaped raceme of star-shaped white flowers, each marked at the base with a greenish-brown blotch; the blooms are prized as cut flowers for their long vase life. Cultivation requires well-drained soil, a sunny position, and a thoroughly dry summer dormancy.