Lily of the Valley

**Lily of the valley**, ***Convallaria majalis*** (/ˌkɒnvəˈleɪriə məˈdʒeɪlɪs/)[1], sometimes written **lily-of-the-valley**,[2] is a highly poisonous[3] woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers borne in sprays in spring. It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe.

It is possibly the only species in the genus *Convallaria* in the asparagus family.

Other names include **May bells**, **Our Lady's tears**, and **Mary's tears**. Its French name, ***muguet***, sometimes appears in the names of perfumes imitating the flower's scent. In pre-modern England, the plant was known as **glovewort** (as it was a wort used to create a salve for sore hands), or **Apollinaris** (according to a legend that it was discovered by Apollo).[4]

## Contents

* 1Description
* 2Taxonomy
* 3Distribution
* 4Ecology
* 5Cultivation
* 6Chemistry
* 7Uses
	+ 7.1Perfume
	+ 7.2Weddings and other celebrations
* 8Cultural symbolism
	+ 8.1Christian traditions
* 9Gallery
* 10References
* 11Further reading
* 12External links

## Description[edit]

Berries

*Convallaria majalis* is an herbaceous perennial plant that often forms extensive colonies by spreading underground stems called rhizomes. New upright shoots are formed at the ends of stolons in summer,[5] these upright dormant stems are often called pips.[6] These grow in the spring into new leafy shoots that still remain connected to the other shoots under ground. The stems grow to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall, with one or two leaves 10–25 cm (4–10 in) long; flowering stems have two leaves and a raceme of five to fifteen flowers on the stem apex.

The flowers have six white tepals (rarely pink), fused at the base to form a bell-shape, 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) diameter, and sweetly scented; flowering is in late spring, in mild winters in the Northern Hemisphere it is in early March. The fruit is a small orange-red berry 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) diameter that contains a few large whitish to brownish colored seeds that dry to a clear translucent round bead 1–3 mm (0.04–0.12 in) wide. Plants are self-sterile, and colonies consisting of a single clone do not set seed.[7]

## Taxonomy[edit]

In the APG III system, the genus is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae[8]). It was formerly placed in its own family Convallariaceae, and, like many lilioid monocots, before that in the lily family Liliaceae.

There are three varieties that have sometimes been separated out as distinct species or subspecies by some botanists.[9]

* *Convallaria majalis* var. *keiskei* – from China and Japan, with red fruit and bowl-shaped flowers (now widely cited as *Convallaria keiskei*)[7][10]
* *C. majalis* var. *majalis* – from Eurasia, with white midribs on the flowers
* *C. majalis* var. *montana* – from the United States, with green-tinted midribs on the flowers

*Convallaria transcaucasica* is recognised as a distinct species by some authorities, while the species formerly called *Convallaria japonica* is now classified as *Ophiopogon japonicus*.[10]

## Distribution[edit]

*Convallaria majalis* is a native of Europe, where it largely avoids the Mediterranean and Atlantic margins.[11] An eastern variety, *C. majalis* var. *keiskei* occurs in Japan and parts of eastern Asia. A limited native population of *C. majalis* var. *montana* (synonym *C. majuscula*) occurs in the Eastern United States.[12] There is, however, some debate as to the native status of the American variety.[13]

Like many perennial flowering plants, *C. majalis* exhibits dual reproductive modes by producing offspring asexually by vegetative means and by seed, produced via the fusion of gametes.[14]

## Ecology[edit]

*Convallaria majalis* is a plant of partial shade, and mesophile type that prefers warm summers. It likes soils that are silty or sandy and acid to moderately alkaline,[15] with preferably a plentiful amount of humus. The Royal Horticultural Society states that slightly alkaline soils are the most favored.[16] It is a Euroasiatic and suboceanic species that lives in mountains up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) elevation.[17]

*Convallaria majalis* is used as a food plant by the larvae of some moth and butterfly (Lepidoptera) species including the grey chi. Adults and larvae of the leaf beetle *Lilioceris merdigera* are also able to tolerate the cardenolides and thus feed on the leaves.[18]

## Cultivation[edit]

Variegated cultivar early in spring

Double-flowered ‘Flore pleno’

'Rosea'

*Convallaria majalis* is widely grown in gardens for its scented flowers and ground-covering abilities in shady locations. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3][19] In favourable conditions it can form large colonies.

Various kinds and cultivars are grown, including those with double flowers, rose-colored flowers, variegated foliage and ones that grow larger than the typical species.[10]

* *C. majalis* 'Albostriata' has white-striped leaves
* *C. majalis* 'Green Tapestry', 'Haldon Grange', 'Hardwick Hall', 'Hofheim', 'Marcel', 'Variegata' and 'Vic Pawlowski's Gold' are other variegated cultivars[10]
* *C. majalis* 'Berlin Giant' and *C. majalis* 'Géant de Fortin' (syn. 'Fortin's Giant') are larger-growing cultivars[10]
* *C. majalis* 'Flore Pleno' has double flowers.[10]
* *C. majalis* 'Rosea' sometimes found under the name *C. majalis* var. *rosea*, has pink flowers.[10]

Traditionally *Convallaria majalis* has been grown in pots and winter forced to provide flowers during the winter months, both for as potted plants and as cut flowers.[20]

## Chemistry[edit]

All parts of the plant are highly poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children.[21] If ingested—even in small amounts—the plant can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, reduced heart rate,[22] blurred vision, drowsiness, and red skin rashes.[23]

Roughly 38 different cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) have been found in the plant, including:

* convallamarin
* convallatoxin
* convallotoxoloside
* convallosid
* neoconvalloside
* glucoconvalloside
* majaloside
* convallatoxon
* corglycon
* cannogenol-3-*O*-α-L-rhamnoside
* cannogenol-3-*O*-β-D-allomethyloside
* cannogenol-3-*O*-6-deoxy-β-D-allosido-β-D-glucoside,
* cannogenol-3-*O*-6-deoxy-β-D-allosido-α-L-rhamnoside,
* strophanthidin-3-*O*-6-deoxy-β-D-allosido-α-L-rhamnoside,
* strophanthidin-3-*O*-6-deoxy-β-D-allosido-α-L-arabinoside,
* strophanthidin-3-*O*-α-L-rhamnosido-2-β-D-glucoside,
* sarmentogenin-3-*O*-6-deoxy-β-D-allosido-α-L-rhamnoside
* sarmentogenin-3-*O*-6-deoxy-β-D-guloside
* 19-hydroxy-sarmentogenin-3-*O*-α-L-rhamnoside,
* 19-hydroxy-sarmentogenin
* arabinosido-6-deoxyallose
* lokundjoside

The plant also contains saponins. Although deadly, the plant has been used as a folk remedy in moderate amounts,[24] and is currently used by herbalists as a restricted herbal remedy. It also contains the unusual, poisonous amino acid azetidine-2-carboxylic acid.

The odor of lily of the valley, specifically the ligand bourgeonal, was thought to attract mammalian sperm.[25] The 2003 discovery of this phenomenon prompted research into odor reception,[26] but a 2012 study demonstrated instead that at high concentrations, bourgeonal imitated the role of progesterone in stimulating sperm to swim (chemotaxis), a process unrelated to odor reception.[27]

## Uses[edit]

### Perfume[edit]

In 1956, the French firm Dior produced a fragrance simulating lily of the valley, which was Christian Dior's favorite flower. Diorissimo was designed by Edmond Roudnitska.[28] Although it has since been reformulated, it is considered a classic.[28][29]

Other perfumes imitating or based on the flower include Henri Robert's Muguet de Bois (1936),[30] Penhaligon's Lily of the Valley (1976),[28] and Olivia Giacobetti's En Passant (2000).[28]

### Weddings and other celebrations[edit]

Duchess of Cambridge with bridal bouquet featuring lily of the valley

Lily of the valley has been used in weddings[31] and can be very expensive.[32] Lily of the valley was featured in the bridal bouquet at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.[32][33] Lily of the valley was also the flower chosen by Princess Grace of Monaco to be featured in her bridal bouquet.[*citation needed*]

At the beginning of the 20th century, it became tradition in France to sell lily of the valley on international labour day, 1 May (also called *La Fête du Muguet* (Lily of the Valley Day) by labour organisations and private persons without paying sales tax (on that day only) as a symbol of spring.[34]

Lily of the valley is worn in Helston (Cornwall, UK) on Flora Day (8 May each year, see Furry Dance) representing the coming of "the May-o" and the summer. There is also a song sung in pubs around Cornwall (and on Flora Day in Cadwith, near Helston) called "Lily of the Valley"; the song, strangely, came from the Jubilee Singers from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.[35]

## Cultural symbolism[edit]

The lily of the valley was the national flower of Yugoslavia,[36] and it also became the national flower of Finland in 1967.[37]

In the "language of flowers", the lily of the valley signifies the return of happiness.[31]

In terms of musical influence, “Lily of the Valley” is also a song by Queen on their album Sheer Heart Attack.

Lily of the Valley was featured in the TV show *Breaking Bad*, as it was used by Walter White as a naturally occurring poison.

It was also featured in the TV show *Outlander*, where a boy mistook it with wood garlic (Allium ursinum) and poisoned himself by eating the plant.

### Christian traditions[edit]

Two of the flower's alternative names — Our Lady's tears and Mary's tears — derive from Christian legends that it sprang from the weeping of the Virgin Mary during the crucifixion of Jesus. Other etiologies have its coming into being from Eve's tears after she was driven with Adam from the Garden of Eden.[38]

The name "lily of the valley", like its correspondences in some other European languages, is apparently a reference to the phrase "lily of the valleys" (sometimes also translated as "lily of the valley") in Song of Songs 2:1 (in Hebrew: "*shoshannat-ha-amaqim*"). European herbalists' use of the phrase to refer to a specific plant species seems to have appeared relatively late in the 16th[39] or 15th century.[40] The New Latin term *convallaria* (coined by Linnaeus) and, for example, Swedish name *liljekonvalj* derive from the corresponding phrase *lilium convallium* in the Latin Vulgate.

It is a symbol of humility in religious painting. Lily of the valley is considered the sign of Christ's second coming.[*citation needed*]

## Gallery[edit]

* Convallaria close-up
* Moldovan stamp
* 1 May, by Franz Xaver Winterhalter
* Lunner (Norway) municipal coat of arms

## References[edit]

1. **^** *Sunset Western Garden Book,* 1995:606–607
2. **^**
3. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b***
4. **^**
5. **^** Flora of China: *Convallaria majalis*
6. **^**
7. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** Ohara, Masashi; Araki, Kiwakoi; Yamada, Etsukoi; Kawano, Shoichi, Life-history monographs of Japanese plants, 6: *Convallaria keiskei* Miq. (Convallariaceae), *Plant Species Biology*, Vol 21, No 2, August 2006, pp. 119–126(8), Blackwell Publishing
8. **^**
9. **^**
10. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** ***c*** ***d*** ***e*** ***f*** ***g***
11. **^**
12. **^** Flora of North America : *Convallaria majalis*
13. **^** Gleason, Henry A. and Cronquist, Arthur, (1991), *Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada*, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, pp. 839-40
14. **^**
15. **^**
16. **^** RHS Encyclopaedia of Perennials[*full citation needed*]
17. **^**
18. **^**
19. **^**
20. **^**
21. **^**
22. **^**
23. **^**
24. **^** Cantell, Sulo; Saarnio, Väinö, 1936. *Suomen myrkylliset ja lääkekasvit* (translation: *The Poisonous and Medical plants of Finland*, no known translated literature available)[*better source needed*]
25. **^**
26. **^** For example ScienceDaily 2007
27. **^**  See also ScienceMag article
28. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** ***c*** ***d*** "Lily of the Valley Perfumes". *Vogue* slideshow.
29. **^** Patty. "Best Lily of the Valley Perfume – Muguet Guide". *Perfume Posse*, April 8, 2013.
30. **^**
31. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b***
32. ^ Jump up to:***a*** ***b*** Lily of the Valley Stars in Royal Bridal Bouquet
33. **^** Balcony kisses seal royal wedding
34. **^**
35. **^**
36. **^**
37. **^**
38. **^**
39. **^** https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=lily+of+the+valley
40. **^** Keil, Gundolf. „Es hat vnser libe fraw gesprochen in dem puch der libe: ‚Ich pin ein plvm des tals vnd auch des grvnen waldes‘“: Die Einführung der Convallarin-Glykoside als Hinweis auf mährisch-schlesische Provenienz.*In: Iva Kratochvilová, Lenka Vaňková (Hrsg.):*Germanistik im Spiegel der Generationen. Festschrift Zdeněk Masařík.*Opava/ Ostrava 2004, S. 72–132.*

## External links[edit]

***Convallaria majalis*** (category)

* Invasive Plant Atlas – US Distribution Map
* *Convallaria majalis* fact sheet – NC Cooperative Extension

Categories:

* Flora of Europe
* Flora of temperate Asia
* Flora of the Southeastern United States
* Flora of Myanmar
* Flora of West Virginia
* Garden plants of Asia
* Garden plants of Europe
* Garden plants of North America
* Medicinal plants
* Nolinoideae
* Poisonous plants
* Plants described in 1753

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