MAY. 137 
These pretty plants derive their name from convallis, a 
valley, their usual locality. Two species may now be met 
with, though they are not very common. 
ConvaLLaRis MAJALIS. Lily of the valley. The delicate 
flower, and the two broad over-shadowing leaves of the 
Lily of the valley are well known, and the plant is an uni- 
versal favourite, from its simple beauty. It is found parti- 
cularly in a light soil, in woods and coppices. 
CoNVALLARIA MULTIFLORA. Common Solomon’s-seal, is 
often found in the same situations as its rival in beauty 
the majalis. Its curious white flowers, with green edges, are 
extremely elegant. The leaves do not enclose the blossom 
as in the former species, but stand above the drooping 
flowers, as if to shade them from the sun. There is, 
perhaps, more elegance, but less modest beauty in this 
species. Its leaves are oval, large, upright, marked with 
nerves from the point to the base, and half embracing the 
stem. The flowers hang below in one, or many-flowered 
clusters. Stem single, and making a graceful bend. It is 
very abundant in the woods on the South Downs. There 
are two other species somewhat similar to the last, but they 
are very rare. 
