オオアマナはラテン語の属名がオーニソガラム。英名は新約聖書に由来し、東方の三博士に救世主の誕生を知らせ、ベツレヘムへ導きました。
Ornithogalum is the Latin genus name for Star of Bethlehem. The English name comes from the New Testament. The star informed the Magi about the birth of the Messiah and led them to Bethlehem.
【仮名】オオアマナ, オーニソガラム
【和名】大甘菜
【英名】Star of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum
【学名】Ornithogalum umbellatum
【誕生】02/ 27
【開花】04, 05月
【花色】White
オオアマナ
オオアマナの概要
オオアマナはキジカクシ科の多年草。原産地は欧州の地中海沿岸～アジア南西部で、日本へは明治時代に観賞用で渡来し、逸出・野生化しました。和名の由来は姿形が「甘菜」に似ていて、花が大きいから。ただし、球根に甘味があって食べられる甘菜と違い、鱗茎に毒性があります。
オオアマナの英名
オオアマナの英名は「ベツレヘムの星」という意味で新約聖書に由来。東方の三博士に救世主の誕生を知らせ、ベツレヘムへ導き、イエスに乳香、没薬、黄金が捧げられました。ラテン語の属名オーニソガラムは「鳥の乳」という意味ですが、これは素嚢乳でなく、花の形や色に由来。
オオアマナの姿形
オオアマナは葉が細長い線形で根出。１本の茎にたくさんの花を着けます。花被片は６枚で、表が白色、裏が緑色。花冠は陽がさすと開き、曇ったり、陽が落ちると閉じます。花後は蒴果を結んで種子を散布。夏に地上の茎や葉が枯れて地下の鱗茎で休眠し、冬から再び伸び出します。
オオアマナと甘菜
オオアマナの名前の由来でもある「甘菜」はユリ科の多年草です。日本では本州の福島県以南、国外では朝鮮半島、中国東北部に分布。陽当たりがよく、湿ったところを好みます。昔は里地の畦畔や堤防などで群生していましたが、今は衰退。１本の茎の先端に１輪の花を咲かせます。
オオアマナと花韮
オオアマナに姿形が似ている「花韮」はヒガンバナ科の多年草です。原産地はアルゼンチンで、明治時代に観賞用で導入され、逸出・野生化。韮のように葉が細長く、傷つけると韮のような臭いを放ちます。花は甘く香るものの、鱗茎は有毒。１本の茎の先端に１輪の花を咲かせます。
Star of Bethlehem
Overview of Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem is a perennial plant of the family Asparagaceae. The place of origin is the Mediterranean coast of Europe to the southwestern part of Asia, and it came to Japan for ornamental purposes in the Meiji period, and then escaped and became wild. The Japanese name means that the shape is similar to “Amana edulis” and the flowers are large. Amana edulis has sweet bulbs and is edible, but Star of Bethlehem has toxic bulbs.
Name of Star of Bethlehem
The name of Star of Bethlehem comes from the New Testament. The star informed the Magi about the birth of the Messiah and led them to Bethlehem, and they offered Jesus frankincense, myrrh, and gold. The Latin genus name Ornithogalum means “bird’s milk”, but this is derived from the shape and color of the flower, not the crop milk.
Form of Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem has elongated linear basal leaves. Many flowers on one stem. The perianth has 6 tepals, the upper surface is white and the lower surface is green. The corolla opens when the sun shines and closes when it’s cloudy or the sun goes down. After flowering, they form capsules and disperse seeds. In the summer, the above-ground stems and leaves wither and the underground bulbs go dormant and the above-ground grow again in the winter.
Amana edulis and Star of Bethlehem
“Amana edulis” is a perennial plant of the Liliaceae family, which is the origin of Japanese name of Star of Bethlehem. In Japan, it is distributed south of Fukushima Prefecture on Honshu, and in the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China outside of Japan. It likes sunny and moist places. In the past, it used to grow in colonies along the ridges and embankments of rural areas, but now it is declining. A single flower blooms at the tip of one stem.
Ipheion uniflorum and Star of Bethlehem
“Ipheion uniflorum” is a perennial plant of Amaryllidaceae, which has a similar shape to Star of Bethlehem. The place of origin is Argentina, it was introduced for ornamental purposes in the Meiji era, and then escaped and became wild. The leaves are long and slender, like Chinese chive, and when damaged, they give off odor like Chinese chive. The flowers are sweetly scented, but the bulbs are poisonous. A single flower blooms at the tip of one stem.
