MONOCOTYLEDONS 23 



Cidtivation, — The young corm begins life about June 

 as a small bud growing out of the parent corm. This 

 grows up out of the ground and forms a flower in 

 autumn. Several buds may appear from one corm, and 

 so several plants are formed. When the plant is fully 

 formed its basal part gradually expands to form a new 

 eorm. In this way several fresh corms are derived from 

 tlie single parent. When the daughter-corms ai*e suffi- 

 ciently large, they may be separated from the remains 

 of the parent conn and planted afresh. 



Lily of the Valley {Convallaria majalis). — It is not 



necessary to give a detailed description of this well- 

 known little Liliaceous white-flowered plant. 



Poisonous Prope7'ties. — It is important to caution 

 children against putting the flowers into their mouths 

 as they sometimes do, for these are very poisonous oh 

 account of the presence in them of two glucosides called 

 convallaviarin and convallarin; the former acts upon 

 the heart, the latter is purgative. The red berries of this 

 plant are very attractive in appearance^ and consequently 

 a source of danger to children. Fortunately the berries 

 are not often formed. 



Medicinal Properties, — This plant is used as a substi- 

 tute for Foxglove, as one of its active principles acts on 

 the heart. 



Distribution. — Found wild and in abundance in Lin- 

 colnshire, Derbyshire, Westmorland, and other counties. 



Collection. — The flowers only are used, these being 

 dried on the stalks. They are not worth collecting, 

 except when very abundant The flowers are gathered 

 before the petals open to their full extent. 



Herb Paris {Paris qiiadrifolia). — Tliis is not an im- 

 portant plant, as it has no medicinal properties and is 

 not very common. It must be included in our list, how- 

 ever, because of its poisonous natiu'e. When once noted 



