Convallaria majal is commonly known as the Lily
of the Valley, is a sweetly scented (and highly poisonous) woodland
flowering plant that is native throughout the cool temperate Northern
Hemisphere in Asia, Europe and in the southern Appalachian Mountains in the
United States of the Americas. There is, however, some debate as to the native
status of the North American variety. It is possibly the only species in the
genus Convallaria (or one of two or three, if C. keiskei and C. transcaucasica
are recognised as separate species).
Caution is advised when eating False Lily of
the Valley (as is true of most berries) eating too many can cause severe diarrhoea.
The berries of the
FALSE Lily of the valley species that I mention here are considered edible but
are bitter tasting and not very palatable; but remember, SURVIVAL is not about
likes or dislikes. The genus name is derived from the Latin word for May,
referring to the flowering time of these plants. The fruit of Maianthemum
species is a true berry.
Fruit:
Berries
are pea- sized, hard ad green at first, then red when ripe.
Season:
Flowers
May to June. Fruit ripens July through September.
Description:
Herbaceous
creeping perennial, arising from rhizomes and usually forming large colonies.
Leaves heart shaped, alternating with prominent parallel veins. Flowers small,
white, with 4 petals borne in distinct clusters, blooming early spring. Fruit
borne at the top of stems in clusters Found in moist clearings
.
Wild FALSE Lilly of the
Valley, Maianthemum canadense, is a
smaller plant with stalk less leaves The berries are, at first, cream coloured with red speckles, then pink, with red flecks,
finally ripening to soled red. This plant is found in MOIST Eastern British
Columbia forests. Also called: Canada
Mayflower.
False
Lily of the Valley, Maianthemum dilatatum, is the larger plant,
with normally, two leaves near the top and one near the base (the leaves are
stalked). Unripe berries are hard and green, turning mottled brown, then soft
and red, when ripe.This plant, occurs in swampy areas and shady, moist wilds in
coastal British Columbia, with a limited range in the East-Central part of the
province. Also called: Two-leafed Solomon’s Seal or Snake Berries.
Many groups in British Columbia CANADA ate false Lily of
the Valley, but it was rarely highly regarded as a staple food. The berries
were usually only eaten by children, or by hunters, and berry pickers ont in
search of other berries. However, it is claimed that the former Haida peoples
once used the berries to a great extent. Apparently, they ate the berries fresh
and also picked them when unripe and stored them until they were red and soft
False Solomon's Seal, Maianthemum racemosum, grows in clumps from a fleshy root stock. The berries are first green with copper coloured spots. Also called: Feathery False Lily of the Valley.
Star Flowered, False Solomon's Seal, differentiated from Maianthemum by being smaller, with fewer flowers and leaves, and a LOT fewer, but larger, berries. Also called Starry False Lily of the Valley
False Solomon's Seal, Maianthemum racemosum, grows in clumps from a fleshy root stock. The berries are first green with copper coloured spots. Also called: Feathery False Lily of the Valley.
Star Flowered, False Solomon's Seal, differentiated from Maianthemum by being smaller, with fewer flowers and leaves, and a LOT fewer, but larger, berries. Also called Starry False Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley Phenomenon: The odour of lily of the
valley, specifically the ligand bourgeonal, attracts mammal sperm in a dramatic
manner. The 2003 discovery of this phenomenon prompted a new wave of research
into odour reception, but no evidence was found that the female sex organ has
similar odours of any kind.
A 2012 study demonstrated instead that at high
concentrations, bourgeonal imitated the role of progesterone in stimulating
sperm to swim (chemotaxis), a process unrelated to odour reception.
© Al (Alex, Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.
© Al (Alex, Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.
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