lily-of-the-valley

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European lily-of-the-valley
• lily-of-the-valley
• Lily of The Valley
• European lily of the valley
• May Lily

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Convallaria majalis var. transcaucasica
• Convallaria majalis f. abchasica
• Convallaria majalis f. prolificans
• Convallaria majalis subspecioid prolificans
• Polygonatum majale
• Lilium-convallium majale
• Convallaria majalis f. mappii
• Convallaria maxima
• Convallaria majalis var. bracteosa
• Convallaria majalis var. rubra
• Convallaria latifolia
• Convallaria transcaucasica
• Convallaria linnaei
• Convallaria majalis var. latifolia
• Convallaria majalis var. variegata
• Convallaria majalis subf. picta
• Convallaria majalis subsp. transcaucasica
• Convallaria majalis f. picta
• Convallaria majalis var. prolificans
• Convallaria majalis var. rosea
• Convallaria majalis convar. silvaticoides
• Convallaria majalis subspecioid tetraploidiae
• Convallaria mappii
• Convallaria majalis f. angustifolia
• Convallaria majalis var. laminaris
• Convallaria majalis f. laminaris
• Convallaria majalis convar. latifolia
• Convallaria majalis f. latifrons
• Convallaria majalis f. latior

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Convallaria majalis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. It is further categorized under the genus Convallaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Its presence can be documented in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It also thrives within the natural landscapes found throughout Finland. Furthermore, the species is commonly observed growing across Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range extends to the scenic terrains of Ireland and Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Convallaria majalis is defined by its preference for moist, shaded environments, typically found within deciduous forests, forest edges, and damp meadows. It thrives in areas characterized by rich, humus-heavy soils, often colonizing shrubberies where it can establish dense, spreading mats through its rhizomatous growth habit. By occupying these semi-shaded, hydric to mesic niches, the plant benefits from the stable moisture levels and filtered light provided by the forest canopy and surrounding thickets.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, meadows: wet, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Convallaria majalis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically categorized as a geophyte, which means it survives unfavorable seasons by storing nutrients in underground organs such as rhizomes. This plant exhibits a deciduous habit, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Convallaria majalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber or a vine, and it maintains an independent existence as it is not a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.21 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.21 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Convallaria majalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes typical of temperate woodland flora. Its foliage is non-carnivorous and lacks any defensive morphological structures such as thorns or spines. The leaves exhibit a lanceolate form with entire margins, ranging in length from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, with an average length of 13.5 cm. In terms of width, the leaves vary from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 61.245 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 289.67 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological adaptation to its specific environmental niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

13.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf size mean:

61.245 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

8.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

289.67 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Convallaria majalis is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically begins in May and concludes in June. The pollination process is primarily biotic, utilizing an insect pollination syndrome with a specific emphasis on bees. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating these animal vectors for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant produces indehiscent fruit classified as a berry. These berries vary in size, with a mean length of 0.95 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm) and a mean width of 0.875 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm). The seeds contained within the fruit have a mean mass of approximately 0.052930611 g, with recorded minimum and maximum values of 0.01449 g and 0.03067 g respectively. Dispersal of the seeds occurs through both zoochorous and autochorous syndromes, aiding in the spread of the species. Furthermore, asexual reproduction is absent in this plant, making sexual reproduction via seed production the primary method for propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

1.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.95 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.875 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.03067 g

Seed mass mean:

0.052930611 g

Seed mass min:

0.01449 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Convallaria majalis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Convallaria majalis has 36 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM OXALATE, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Canescin, Cardenolides, Cheirotoxin.

CALCIUM OXALATE

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

Canescin

1. Dr. Duke

Cardenolides

1. Dr. Duke

Cheirotoxin

1. Dr. Duke

Cheirotoxol

1. Dr. Duke

Chelidonic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Convallamarin

1. Dr. Duke

Convallamarogenin

1. Dr. Duke

Convallamaroside

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Convallaria majalis has 235 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardiotonic, 5-HT-Inhibitor, Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelochemic.

Cardiotonic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical design

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Amylase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCVI

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Convallaria majalis has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus, hyperphagia, polydipsia.

Diabetes mellitus

1. Diabetologia

Hyperphagia

1. Diabetologia

Polydipsia

1. Diabetologia