458 THE LILY FAMILY. [Polygonatum. 



rather larger and especially thicker, solitary or 2 only in each axil, and 

 the filaments of the stamens quite glabrous. 



With nearly the same geographical range as P. multijlorum, but 

 generally in more open and rocky situations, and more common in the 

 limestone districts of southern Europe. In Britain, more scarce, but 

 undoubtedly wild in several localities in England and South Wales. 

 Fl. spring and early summer. 



III. CONVALLABIA. CONVALLARIA, 



A single species, separated from Polygonatum by the leafless flower- 

 stem bearing a terminal raceme, and by the short bell-shaped perianth, 

 with the stamens inserted near its base. 



1. C. xnajalis, Linn. (fig. 1033). Ltty-of-t he- Vattey. Rootstock 

 creeping. Leaves radical, usually 2 together in a scaly sheath ; their 

 long footstalks enclosed one within the other so as to appear like a 

 stem ; the blade oblong, tapering at both ends, 4 to 6 inches long. 

 Flower-stem leafless, radical, shorter than the leaves. Flowers droop- 

 ing, bell-shaped, pure white, sweet-scented, in a loose receme. Berries 

 globular, red. 



In woods, dispersed over Europe and Russian Asia, from the Mediter- 

 ranean to the Arctic Circle, and very common in some localities, especi- 

 ally towards the centre and north, but totally wanting in other districts. 

 Abundant in some counties of England, very local or wanting in others, 

 and not indigenous in Scotland or Ireland. Fl. spring. 



IV. MAIANTHEMTJM. MAY LILY. 



Rootstock usually creeping, with annual erect stems. Leaves alter- 

 nate. Flowers small, in a terminal simple raceme or narrow panicle. 

 Perianth deeply divided into 4 or 6 nearly equal spreading segments. 

 Stamens 4 or 6, inserted at the base of the perianth-segments. Ovary 

 2- or 3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell. Style short, with a 2- or 3- 

 lobed stigma. Fruit a small berry. 



A small genus, dispersed over Europe, temperate Asia, and north 

 America. 



1. M. Convallaria, Roth. (fig. 1034). May Lily. Rootstock slender, 

 creeping. Stems 6 to 9 inches high. Leaves 2, alternate, shortly 

 stalked, ovate, deeply cordate. Flowers small, white, in a terminal 

 raceme about an inch long, not branched, but the short, slender 

 pedicels usually clustered. Perianth of 4 divisions. Stamens 4. 

 Ovary 2-celled. Berries small, red. Smilacina bifolia, Desf. 



In woods, and occasionally in pastures ; dispersed over Europe, 

 Russian Asia, and North America, and often very common. Rare in 

 Britain, and omitted in the first edition of this Handbook, in the belief 

 that the few localities assigned to it were only where it had been 

 planted. It is, however, stated to be undoubtedly indigenous and 

 abundant near Harkness, 6 miles from Scarborough. FL early summer, 



