Star of Bethlehem

Latin Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Leaves are dark green, glossy to waxy, and have a light green midrib
  • Flowers are star shaped
  • Flowers have 6 white petals
  • Leaves are hollow
  • Small bulbs slightly below ground

Plant Longevity:

  • Perennial
  • Noticed only in early- to mid-spring

Where Commonly Found:

  • Roadsides
  • Pastures
  • Woodlands

Time of Most Concern:

  • Anytime the bulbs are brought to the surface

Compound that Causes Concern:

  • Cardiac glycosides, found in foxglove, oleander, and other cardiotoxic plants
    • Glycoside rhodexin A and the diglycoside rhodexoside have both been identified and may be the toxic components in this plant

Part of Plant Most Toxic:

  • All parts, especially the bulbs

Livestock Species Affected:

  • Cattle
  • Sheep
  • Horses

Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:

  • Both

Clinical Signs:

  • Drooling
  • Diarrhea
  • Breathing problems
  • Heart rate reduced

Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:

  • Toxic amount of this plant or its specific cardiac glycosides is not currently known; however, other plants containing similar cardiac glycosides do have known toxic doses
  • Oleander (Nerium oleander), one of the most toxic of the glycoside-containing plants and found commonly in western states, has a toxic dose of 5 g (0.18 ounces) or 2-3 leaves in sheep
  • Oleander has a toxic dose of 1-20 g (0.035-0.71 ounces) of green material and 15-25 g (0.53-0.88) of dried material in cattle
  • Oleander is likely more toxic than Star of Bethlehem
  • Members of the dogbane family, Apocynum spp., which includes hemp dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), also contain cardiac glycosides, and have a toxic dose of 15-30 g (0.53-0.88 ounces) of green leaves. This amount will cause death in an adult horse or cow.

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Leaves are dark green, glossy to waxy, and have a light green midrib
  • Flowers are star shaped
  • Flowers have 6 white petals
  • Leaves are hollow
  • Small bulbs slightly below ground

Plant Longevity:

  • Perennial
  • Noticed only in early- to mid-spring

Where Commonly Found:

  • Roadsides
  • Pastures
  • Woodlands

Time of Most Concern:

  • Anytime the bulbs are brought to the surface

Compound that Causes Concern:

  • Cardiac glycosides, found in foxglove, oleander, and other cardiotoxic plants
    • Glycoside rhodexin A and the diglycoside rhodexoside have both been identified and may be the toxic components in this plant

Part of Plant Most Toxic:

  • All parts, especially the bulbs

Livestock Species Affected:

  • Cattle
  • Sheep
  • Horses

Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:

  • Both

Clinical Signs:

  • Drooling
  • Diarrhea
  • Breathing problems
  • Heart rate reduced

Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:

  • Toxic amount of this plant or its specific cardiac glycosides is not currently known; however, other plants containing similar cardiac glycosides do have known toxic doses
  • Oleander (Nerium oleander), one of the most toxic of the glycoside-containing plants and found commonly in western states, has a toxic dose of 5 g (0.18 ounces) or 2-3 leaves in sheep
  • Oleander has a toxic dose of 1-20 g (0.035-0.71 ounces) of green material and 15-25 g (0.53-0.88) of dried material in cattle
  • Oleander is likely more toxic than Star of Bethlehem
  • Members of the dogbane family, Apocynum spp., which includes hemp dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), also contain cardiac glycosides, and have a toxic dose of 15-30 g (0.53-0.88 ounces) of green leaves. This amount will cause death in an adult horse or cow.