Question: Thank you for your answer about Ornithogalum umbellatum. It's curious that "ornitho" appears in the genus name. Something birdlike in …
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Question
Thank you for your answer about Ornithogalum umbellatum. It's curious that "ornitho" appears in the genus name. Something birdlike in the plant or in the mind of the namer! Yesterday my wife snapped this photo of a shrub/tree growing along the side of Middle Road in Chilmark, MA, with interesting clusters of fruits and very veined leaves (I believe they grow alternately but am not sure). Your ideas? I can return and get more photos if that would be helpful.
Answer
Dear David, the name Ornithogalum derives from "ornis" (bird) and "gala" (milk), which is stated to be an allusion to the color of the flowers. I would need to see other images of the plant you have posted--but it may be a species of Viburnum. Best wishes.
