84 LILY OF THE VALLEY. 



leaves, which are broad, ovate-lanceolate, entire, curved -ribbed, 

 and of a bright-green colour, sheathing" at the base. The flowers 

 terminate the scape in a short, almost unilateral, raceme; 

 each flower is pendulous, and is supported on a short peduncle, 

 with a single lanceolate, membranous bractea at the base. The 

 perianth is pure white, fragrant, globose-campanulate, six-cleft ; 

 the segments curved back. The six stamens have short subulate 

 filaments, with two small obsolete glands at the base, where they 

 are inserted into the perianth, terminated by erect, pyramidal, 

 acute anthers. The germen is superior, ovate, three-celled, sur- 

 mounted by a thick cylindrical style, tipped with a trigonal, obtuse 

 stigma. The fruit is a globose scarlet berry, with pulp of a similar 

 colour, three-celled (the dissepiments obliterated), each cell contain- 

 ing one or two seeds, which are roundish, angular, and whitish. 

 Plate SO, fig. 4, (a) the root-stock ; (6) corolla opened to show the 

 stamens ; (c) pistil ; (d) berry ; (e) the same cut transversely ; 

 (/) seed. 



The Lily of the Valley occurs throughout Europe, as far as Lap- 

 land, and in North America, and is not uncommon in this country, 

 in woods and coppices, in a light soil. It is very abundant in the 

 woods about Woburn, Bedfordshire ; and Gerard found it on 

 Hampstead-heath. It flowers in May. 



The generic name is formed from convallis, a valley, and an- 

 swers to the common appellation of the plant. It has been called, 

 provincially, May Lily, Lily Convalley, May-blossom, Ladder to 

 Heaven, and, as Gerard tells us, Liriconfancie. Some writers 

 suppose this plant to be the Lilium vernum of Theophrastus.* 



The modest beauty and delicate fragrance of the Lily of the 

 Valley, have rendered it a great favourite with the poets. 

 , " Valley-lilies, whiter still 



Than Leda's love." 



Keats' Endymion, p. 10. 



" The lily, silver mistress of the vale." 



ChurcJiill. 



Shelley beautifully describes it in his " Vision of Spring-flowers," 



as the 



" Naiad-like lily of the vale, 



Whom youth makes so fair, and passion so pale, 



That the light of its tremulous bells is seen 



Through their pavilions of tender green." 



* Hist. Ub. iv. c. 7. 



