May lily |
The May lily usually has two stem leaves
| Maianthemum bifolium (L.) F. W. Schmidt: | |
| Blooming period: | April–June |
| Height: | 5–20 cm |
| Flowers: | bisexual,
actinomprphic, Ø approx. 0.5 cm, stamens: 4, styles: 1 |
| Tepals: | 4, white, 2–3 mm |
| Stem leaves: | alternate, mostly 2, heart-shaped, 4–8 cm long |
Plant perennial, herbaceous, with a thin rhizome.
Out of the younger sections of the rootstock grow long-stalked, ovate to heart-shaped, acute leaves.
Out of the older sections grow the upright, flower-bearing stems, which are white stiff-hairy at the top and never branched.
Stem leaves 1–3, usually 2, parallel-veined and stalked.
Flowers fragrant, delicate, in dense terminal clusters of 8–15, bracts very small or absent.
Petals and sepals not divided
in calyx and corolla (= perigonium),
the tepals are bent back or spread.
As
fruits round berries are formed,
initially dark green with red spots,
bright red at maturity and without spots. They contain 1–2 seeds. All
plant parts poisonous!
| Floral formula: |
| * P2+2 A2+2 G(2) superior |
Occurrence:
In
humid regions of deciduous and coniferous forests. Prefers shadow,
slight moisture and nitrogen-poor soils.
Distribution:
Temperate
zones of Europe and Asia, in southern Europe in the mountains.