Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)


Description:
Convallaria majalis, commonly known as the Lily of the Valley, is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe and a limited native population in Eastern USA.

It is a herbaceous perennial plant that forms extensive colonies by spreading underground stems called rhizomes. New upright shoots are formed at the ends of stolons in summer, these upright dormant stems are often called pips.These grow in the spring into new leafy shoots that still remain connected to the other shoots under ground, often forming extensive colonies. The stems grow to 15-30 cm tall, with one or two leaves 10-25 cm long, flowering stems have two leaves and a raceme of 5-15 flowers on the stem apex. The flowers are white (rarely pink) tepals , bell-shaped, 5-10 mm diameter, and sweetly scented; flowering is in late spring, in mild winters in early March.

The fruit is a small orange-red berry 5-7 mm diameter that contains a few large whitish to brownish colored seeds that dry to a clear translucent round bead 1 to 3 mm wide. Plants are self-sterile, and colonies of one clone do not set seed.


Legend:
Its specific name, Majalis, or Maialis, signifies 'that which belongs to May,' and the old astrological books place the plant under the dominion of Mercury, since Maia, the daughter of Atlas, was the mother of Mercury.

Legend says that the fragrance of the Lilyof-the-Valley draws the nightingale from hedge and bush, and leads him to choose his mate in the recesses of the glade.

The flower is also known as Our Ladys tears'' since, according to Christian legend, the tears Mary shed at the cross turned to Lilies of the Valley. According to another legend, Lilies of the Valley also sprang from the blood of St. George during his battle with the dragon.


Medicinal Action and Uses:
Lily-of-the-Valley is valued as a cardiac tonic and diuretic. The action of the drug closely resembles that of Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) though it is less powerful; it is used as a substitute and strongly recommended in valvular heart disease, also in cases of cardiac debility and dropsy. It slows the disturbed action of a weak, irritable heart, whilst at the same time increasing its power.

If the plant is touched or handled, hands should be washed before doing anything else.


Other facts:
Traditionally, Lily of the Valley is sold in the streets of France on May 1.

It also became the national flower of Finland in 1967

In some parts of Germany, a wine is prepared from the flowers, mixed with raisins.

More info here [link] and here [link]




Fact by ~nicolehg.

Thanks =inmysolitude43, *SchwarzWieEbenholZ, ~aL-baum, ~Yarw, =little-billie, =liftangel =rosaarvensis and ~mixxitupp7x for their lovely photos!