LILY OF THE VALLEY. 259 



Christmas. It may stand abroad, and should be kept 

 moderately moist. 



Of the Martagon Lilies there are several species, and 

 many varieties of each. These are not calculated for pots, 

 but cannot be passed over without notice, since it is one of 

 these Lilies called the Chalcedonian*, or Scarlet Martagon, 

 which has been determined to be the poetical hyacinth. (See 

 Hyacinth.) The Red and Yellow Martagons are commonly 

 known by the name of TurkVcap Lilies. 



LILY OF THE VALLEY. 



CONVALLARIA. 



SMILACE.iE. HEXANDRIA 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 ; Us des vallees ; muguet 

 de Mai : in the village dialect, gros mouguet : in Italian, il 

 mughetto ,- giglio convallio [lily convally] ; giglio 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, 



* The Chalcedonian Lily is called in French Lis de Saint Bruno (St. 

 Bruno's lily) ; in Italian, ricciodi dama, (lady's curls). 



