Syn.: Convallaria stellata L., Unifolium liliaceum Greene, Vagnera liliacea (Greene) Rydberg, Smilacina liliacea (Greene) Wynd, Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf.
Family: Asparagaceae Juss.

Maianthemum stellatum

Distribution: Species of North America, it occurs from the Canadian Newfoundland to British Columbia, northward extends to eastern Alaska, southward to California and northwest Mexico, Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland.

Ecology: It grows in forest margins, also on sand dunes, in prairie, in elevations from sea level to 3200 m. It blooms from June to August.

Maianthemum stellatum

Description: Perennial herb with underground rhizome, 15–45 cm tall. Stem erect, leaves 8–11, alternate, sessile, elliptic to lanceolate, 5–6(–15) cm long and 2.5–3.5(–5) cm wide, apex acute. Inflorescence racemose, 6–15-flowered, flowers fragrant, tepals 6, white, 4–5 × 1.5–2 mm. The fruit is a round berry, 6–8 mm, greenish with 3 prominent and 3 faint maroon stripes, at maturity turning almost black.

Threat and protection: In some U.S. states is included to endangered species (eg. Arizona, Kentucky, Maryland).

Use: This plant is consumed by cattle. Native tribes harvested the rhizomes in the fall for drying and crushing them for application against bleeding.

Note: The genus Maianthemum contains about 30 species which are distributed in North America, Central America, Europe and Asia.

Maianthemum stellatum
Maianthemum stellatum
Maianthemum stellatum
Maianthemum stellatumMaianthemum stellatum
Maianthemum stellatum
Maianthemum stellatum

These images were taken in Canada, Newfoundland, Torbay (by Miroslav Engliš, June 2009), Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Port Alberni, Cathedral Grove; Whiteswann Lake Provincial Park, Alces Lake (by Alena Vydrová and Vít Grulich, 8. and 25. 7. 2007), Canada, Alberta, Calgary, Confluence Park (by Karel Bergmann, 20. 5. 2013).