LILY FAMILY 



487 



scattered, oblong, acute leaves which hang downwards ; greenish- 

 white flowers in 2 — 5-flowered axillary clusters, resembling old- 

 fashioned bunches of seals ; filaments hairy, and blue-black 

 berries. — -Woods ; uncommon. — Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



3. P. officinale (Angular Solomon's Seal). — Differing from the 

 preceding in being smaller, having an angular stem ; thicker leaves ; 

 larger, usually solitary flowers ; and smooth filaments. — Woods ; 

 rare. — Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



pot/vgonAtum mui.tiflorum {Common Solomon's Seat). 



4. Maianthemum (May-Lily), of which the only species is 

 M. Convalldria (Two-leaved May-lily), a graceful little plant with 

 a creeping, slender rhizome ; an erect stem, 4 — 8 in. high, bearing 

 2 scattered, stalked, cordate, acute leaves, and a terminal raceme 

 of small, white, fragrant, 4-merous flowers, followed by spotted 

 berries. — Woods near Scarborough, and elsewhere ; very rare, 

 though common in the north of Europe. (Name from the Greek 

 maios, May, anthemos, a flower.) — Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



5. Convallaria (Lily of the Valley), represented by the one 

 species C. majdlis, a beautiful plant with a creeping rhizome ; leaves 



