Ornithogalum maculatum yellow buds

These yellow-flowering Ornithogalum maculatum plants seen at Kagga Kamma in September have not opened their buds yet, but carry the black marks normally found on their outer three tepals also on the outside tepal surfaces.

The inflorescence may be up to 50 cm tall, the open flower about 3 cm in diameter. The dull green to blue-green leaves are smooth, strap-shaped and fleshy. They become only about 15 cm long and 1 cm wide.

The plants are browsed, and apparently non-toxic, while so many South African Ornithogalum species cause stock disease, blindness or death (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Vahrmeijer, 1981).