The May Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis L.) - species of perennial rhizome. It is a popular medicinal herb and decorative plant. It has small white flowers with a distinctive smell. It occurs in almost all Polish forests and it is also a plant grown in gardens.
Morphology
Rhizome
It is thin, subterranean, creeping shallow beneath the surface. It is divided into short internode from which roots grow. The rhizomes spread lateral branching. There are two types of rhizomes: thin, horizontal with elongated internodes and thicker, rising up with shorter stems. Peak flowering shoots grow mainly on the rhizomes of the latter type
Roots
They grow in the rhizomes nodes, they are thin and shallow.
Stalk
It grows from biennial rhizomes and is covered with wide epiphysis of leaves. It reaches up to 20 (30) cm long and is usually slightly shorter than the leaves.
Leaves
Assimilative leaves usually grow in pairs from the rhizome (rarely 1 or 3). Their shape is variable, elongated from lanceolate to elliptical. They have pointed tips. They are naked and entire edges. They reach up to 20 (25) cm long and 6 (8) cm wide.
Flowers
They are collected in the peak, one-sided cluster of 5-9 flowers ( wild plants ) and 11-18 flowers ( garden forms ). The flowers are spherical-bells shaped, bent down, with white or light pink sepals and leaves, to 6 (9) mm long and wide, at the end they have six triangular bent notches which are 1.5-2 mm long. There are 6 stamens, they have large, yellow anthers (2 mm) and short, thick threads . The top pistil is triple, the mark is about 2 mm long. The nectaries are situated around the ovary. They produce nectar which attracts pollinators. Intensely fragrant flowers grow on bent stalks about 1 cm long. In the wild the lily of the valley blooms in May and June
Fruit
Rarely arise, hanging, red berries with a diameter of 8-12 mm. They contain the 2-6 bluish-white or yellowish, shiny seeds. They are almost smooth and nearly spherical (on one hand are slightly narrower ). They reach a diameter of 2.5 mm
