proposed by Speta. Thus, any consideration of the genus needs to be examined as to whether it refers to sensu stricto, the 50 species considered by and , or sensu lato, the much larger genus envisaged by . Subdivision This very large genus has long been divided into many subgenera. The Flora Europaea (1980) lists 15 subgenera, many of which had at various times been separate distinct genera. Having originally subsumed all of the Ornithogaleae genera into the single genus Ornithogalum, later subdivided this now very large genus into four subgenera after resurrecting three of the original subsumed genera (Albuca, Pseudogaltonia, Dipcadi). As proposed by them the genus has the following structure: subgenus Avonsera (Speta) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt (monotypic: Ornithogalum convallarioides) subgenus Galtonia (Decne.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt (7 species) subgenus Aspasia (Salisb.) Oberm. (30 species) subgenus Ornithogalum (7 sections, 120 species) Species Of the roughly 180 species, the best known are O. umbellatum, O. saundersiae, O. arabicum, and O. thyrsoides. Ornithogalum arabicum (Star-of-Bethlehem) Ornithogalum dubium (Sun star, yellow chincherinchee) Ornithogalum maculatum (Snake flower) Ornithogalum narbonense (Pyramidal star-of-Bethlehem) Ornithogalum nutans (Drooping star-of-Bethlehem) Ornithogalum pyrenaicum (Bath asparagus/Prussian asparagus/spiked star-of-Bethlehem) Ornithogalum saundersiae (Giant chincherinchee) Ornithogalum thyrsoides (Chincherinchee) Ornithogalum umbellatum (Common star-of-Bethlehem) Type species Ornithogalum xanthochlorum (Namaqua chink/slangkop) Species formerly placed in Galtonia include: Ornithogalum candicans (Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt (Summer hyacinth, Cape hyacinth) Ornithogalum princeps (Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Ornithogalum regalis (Hilliard & B.L.Burtt) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker Ornithogalum viridiflorum (I.Verd.) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt Etymology The Latin genus name ornithogalum derives from Greek ornithogalon referring to ornithogalum umbellatum, itself deriving from ornis "bird" (GEN ornithos) and gala "milk". The name is thought to be related to the white colour of the flowers; in some species, they resemble bird droppings. The possible (non-attested) alternative form in ancient Greek ornithogalē seems to be the source of classical Latin ornithogale as used by Pliny the Elder. Distribution and habitat When the genus is broadly circumscribed, as for example by Plants of the World Online, species are widely distributed over several continents including Africa (other than the tropics), Madagascar, Europe, and temperate Asia (as far as Afghanistan). Uses Ornithogalum species may be sold as cut flowers, particularly O. arabicum, O. dubium, O. saundersiae, and O.thyrsoides. They are also sold as ornamental garden flowers. Toxicity and use in alternative medicine Some of the plants in the genus are poisonous, and have been known to kill grazing