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1753 Linnaeus placed the two plants shown on this page in the genus Convallaria,
Rene Desfontaines renamed the genus
Smilacina in 1807, and Johann Heinrich Link renamed it Maianthemum
in 1821.
Most botanists place these plants in Liliaceae (Lily Family). |
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Also see Prosartes and Streptopus. |
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Synonyms:
Maianthemum
amplexicaule, Smilacina racemosa. Maianthemum
racemosum. (Solomon’s
Plume) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. Maianthemum amplexicaule, sometimes confused with Maianthemum stellatum and Streptopus fassettii, can be distinguished by its broader leaves and tassel-like flower cluster. It also tends to be more solitary, although fairly common in mid-altitude woods. It thrives in moist locations where plants often grow quite robust and several feet tall. Linnaeus named this species Convallaria racemosa in 1753, Desfontaines renamed it Smilacina racemosa in 1807, and Weber accepts the name, Maianthemum amplexicaule. (Nuttall named the species Smilacina amplexicaulis in 1834.) "Maianthemum" means "May Flower" and "amplexicaule" describes the "clasping" of the stem by the leaves. |
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Synonyms:
Maianthemum
amplexicaule, Smilacina racemosa. Maianthemum
racemosum. (Solomon’s
Plume) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. |
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Synonyms:
Maianthemum
amplexicaule, Smilacina racemosa. Maianthemum
racemosum. (Solomon’s
Plume) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. |
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Maianthemum stellatum. Synonym:
Smilacina stellata.
(Star Lily) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. Star Lily is common in the rich moist soils of Aspen woods where it often grows in large patches of dozens of plants. It is especially noticeable on the uphill side of trails arching its tiny star-like flowers downhill toward hikers. Linnaeus named this species Convallaria stellata in 1753, Desfontaines renamed it Smilacina stellata in 1807, and Link named it Maianthemum stellatum in 1821. "Stellatum" is Latin for "Star". |
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Maianthemum
stellatum. Synonym:
Smilacina stellata. (Star Lily) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. In dark woods, plants can be few and scattered. |
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Maianthemum
stellatum. Synonym:
Smilacina stellata.
(Star Lily) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. In more open woods plants abound. Flowers are tiny and hard to see unless you are on your hands and knees, but the dozens of arching plants with pointed leaves are easily noticed -- and quite common. |
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Maianthemum
stellatum. Synonym:
Smilacina stellata.
(Star Lily) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. Fresh flowers grow at the tip and ripening fruit (now yellow, but soon to be red), grows in the fading petals at the base of the raceme of flowers. |
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Maianthemum
stellatum. Synonym:
Smilacina stellata.
(Star Lily) Synonym: Convallariaceae (Mayflower Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Montane, subalpine.
Woodlands. Spring. Ripening seed capsules. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Maianthemum amplexicaule (Maianthemum racemosum)
Range map for Maianthemum stellatum |