Maianthemum |
May lilies at a forest edge
The genus Maianthemum was published at the first time by Friedrich Heinrich Wiggers (or Wichers) and Georg Heinrich Weber in Primitiae florae holsaticae (1780). "Maianthemum" consists of lat. maius = May, and gr. anthemon = flower. The scientific and the English name refers to the flowering period.
Originally the genus comprised only 3 species, including 2 exclusively occur in North America. These 3 species are so similar that they are possibly only subspecies of the same species. They are summarized as "Maianthemum in the narrow sense" whose floral formula is dimerous:
| Floral formula: |
| * P2+2 A2+2 G(2) superior |
DNA analysis showed that the American and East Asian genus Smilacina is so closely related with Maianthemum that the two taxa actually should not be separated. Smilacina is therefore classified by many scientists under Maianthemum (Maianthemum in the broad sense), whereby the number of species rises to more than 30.
The members of the genus are perennial herbs with erect stems. The 2–15 leaves are alternate, stalked or sessile, oval to egg-shaped, rounded or heart-shaped at the base, acute at the apex. The leaf margin is flat or corrugated, serrated or entire. Sometimes a single basal leaf is formed that wilted during the blooming period.
The 5 to more than 200 small, hermaphrodite or unisexual flowers are arranged in racemose or paniculate inflorescences. 6 or 4 tepals are present in 2 circles, indistinguishable in calyx and corolla (perigonium). They are usually free, sometimes united at base, rarely a tube is formed. There are 4 or 6 stamens, which are free or are fused with the corolla tube.
The superior ovary consists of 2–3 carpels, the stylus is very short. The berry fruit is almost or completely spherical. The 1–12 seeds are also spherical or ovate. The "Maianthemum in the broad sense" occur in northern Europe, northern Asia, East Asia, Central and North America.
Meaning of the species name
- bifolium: lat. bifolius = two-leaved
Interesting notes
Sometimes the May lily is grown as a garden plant because of its fragrant flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It can be used as a ground cover in shady, humid places.
The genus Maianthemum sensu stricto (Maianthemum in the strict sense) formerly belonged to Convallaria, with which it has a lot of similarities, in the family Convallariaceae. Before that, it was, as well as the lily of the valley, listed under the lily family. Even today the May lily is called "false lily of the valley".
Maianthemum bifolium was once used in folk medicine as wound dressing and as a diuretic. Since the plant is poisonous by embedded saponins, one should no longer use it as a medicinal plant today.