228 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



LILY OF THE VALLEY. 



CONVALLARIA. 



SMILACE^. HEXANDKIA MONOGYNIA. 



These flowers are so named from growing in valleys. 



Of the Lily of the Valley, called also Lily Convally, 

 and May Lily, and in some country villages, Ladder 

 to Heaven ; — in French, le muguet ; lis des valltes ; 

 muguet de Mai : in the village dialect, gros mouguet : in 

 Italian, il mughefto ; gigHo convaUio [lily convally] ; gigUo 

 delle convalli — there are three species : the Sweet-scented, 

 the Grass-leaved, and the Spiked. The first is a native 

 of Britain and many other parts of Europe. It flowers in 

 May : whence it has been named by some the May Lily. 

 Gerarde calls it Convall Lily, and says that in some places 

 it is called Liriconfancie. It is also called May-blossom. 



" The Lily of the Valley," says Mr. Martyn, " claims 

 our notice both as an ornamental and a medicinal plant. 

 As an ornamental one, few are held in higher estimation : 

 indeed, few flowers can boast such delicacy, with so much 

 fragrance. When dried they have a narcotic scent, and, 

 reduced to powder, excite sneezing. A beautiful and de- 

 sirable green colour may be prepared from the leaves 

 with lime." The distilled water is used in perfumery. 



There are several varieties of this species : one with 

 red flowers, one with double red, and one with double 

 white blossoms. There is also a variety much larger than 

 the common sort, and beautifully variegated with purple. 

 It was brought from the Royal Garden at Paris, and 

 flowered several years in the Chelsea Garden: but the 

 roots do not increase so much as the other varieties. 



