LILY FAMILY. Uliaceet. 



9 



Canada 



Mayflower 



Maianthemum 



Canadense 



White 



May-June 



A tiny woodland plant resembling Smila- 

 cina trifolia, with small white flowers 

 which differ from those of the genus Smi- 

 lacina in having only four sepals and as 

 many stamens. It has two to three light 

 green, shiny leaves which are ovate-lance- 

 shaped or broader, with a somewhat heart-shaped base. 

 The berries are yellow- white, spotted with madder brown, 

 until early fall when they turn a dull translucent ruby- 

 red. 



A familiar plant in the woods of the White Mts. ; gen- 

 erally in moist places. 3-6 inches high. The name is 

 from Mains, May, and dvQeuov, flower. Me., west to 

 Minn, and Iowa, south to N. Car. 



This is the only one true species, familiar 

 in cultivation. It has two oblong leaves, 

 shiny and smooth, and a slender stalk 

 bearing a one-sided row of tiny white 

 flowers, extremely sweet-scented and 

 dainty. Flower-cup bell-shaped, with six 

 lobes recurved, and six stamens. It is ap- 

 parently cross-fertilized by bees who collect the pollen, 

 as there is little or no honey at the base of the bell ; in 

 the absence of insects it is self-fertilized (Hildebrand). 

 Berry red. The name is from the Latin convallis, valley, 

 and the Greek for lily. Identical with the European 

 flower of the gardens, it also grows on the higher 

 Alleghanies, from Va. to S. Car. 



Lily of the 

 Valley 



Convallaria 



majalis 



White 



May-early 



June 



34 



