CONVALLARIA. 105 



CONVALLARIA. 



Solomon's Seal. 



" No flower amid the garden fairer grows 

 Than the sweet Lily of the lowly vale, 

 The queen of flowers." 



Convdllaria majalis. Lily of the Valley. An elegant 

 and delicate, sweet-scented plant, which for ages has been a 

 favorite flower, and highly prized. It succeeds well in the 

 shade in any soil, and soon spreads itself, by its slender, creep- 

 ing roots, beyond the desire of the cultivator. It flowers in 

 May and June. Gerarde describes it, in his quaint way, thus : 

 " The Lilly of the Vally hath many leaves like the smallest 

 leaves of Water Plantaine, among which riseth vp a naked 

 stalke, halfe a foot high, garnished with many white floures, 

 like bels, with blunt and turned edges, of a strong savour, yet 

 pleasant enoughf, which being past, there come small, red 

 berries, much like the berries of asparagus, wherein the seed is 

 contained." 



Convallaria racemose, or Solomon's Seal, is a hardy, indige- 

 nous perennial, with yellow and white flowers, on terminal 

 raceme panicles, in May ; two feet high. 



Convallaria multiflora, or Giant Solomon's Seal, is another 

 native perennial, two or three feet high, with white flowers, in 

 the axil of the leaves, in June. Both sorts are appropriate for 

 the shrubbery or borders. Gerarde, our old author, speaking 

 of the virtues of the plant, says, " that the roots are excellent 

 good for to seale or close up greene wounds, being stamped and 

 laid thereon, whereupon it was called Sigillum Salomoni's, for 

 the singular virtue it hath in sealing or healing vp wounds, 

 broken bones, and such like." He further says, " The root of 

 Solomon's Seale, stamped while it is fresh and greene, and 

 applied, taketh away, in one night, or two, at the most, any 

 bruise, blacke or bleu spots, gotten by fals, or women's wilful- 

 nesse, in stumbling upon their hasty husbands' fists, or such 

 like." A very useful plant, one would think, for some families 

 to cultivate. 



