Ornithogalum sardienii leaves and bulb

The leaves of Ornithogalum sardienii grow in a dense, erect tuft on top of its exposed globular bulb. They are dark green and narrow, tapering to acutely pointed tips. Leaves may be greener in favourable conditions, e.g. in cultivation.

In the photo they show short white hairs along vertical ridges of the thinly succulent leaves. Leaf dimensions are about 3 cm long by 2 mm wide.

The photo was taken near Oudtshoorn in August (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).