Ruscaceae - mayflower family
Maine is home to 7 species in 3 genera (hybrids excluded). If you know which species you have or are interested in learning about, click on the appropriate link from the species list below. Otherwise, to determine which genus your plant belongs to, refer to the table below the species list.
Convallaria (1 species)
Convallaria majalis - European lily-of-the-valley
Maianthemum (4 species)
Maianthemum canadense - Canada-mayflower
Maianthemum racemosum - feathery false Solomon’s-seal
Maianthemum stellatum - star-like false Solomon’s-seal
Maianthemum trifolium - three-leaved false Solomon’s-seal
Polygonatum (2 species)
Polygonatum biflorum - King Solomon’s-seal
Polygonatum pubescens - hairy Solomon’s-seal
| red font = character state unique or nearly so | plant habit | inflorescence | fruit color |
| Convallaria majalis | |||
| Maianthemum | |||
| Polygonatum | arching | solitary or paired | dark blue, black |
Convallaria (lily-of-the-valley)
[information to be added]
Convallaria majalis (European lily-of-the-valley) - [information to be added]
Maianthemum (false Solomon’s-seal)
[information to be added]
| red font = character state unique or nearly so | plant height | inflorescence | leaf number | fruit (berry) |
| Maianthemum canadense | 5–15 cm | short raceme | 2 or 3 | red, speckled |
| Maianthemum racemosum | 30–100 cm | panicle | 8 or more | green, becoming light red |
| Maianthemum stellatum | 30–75 cm | unbranched cluster | 4 or more | green to red, striped with black |
| Maianthemum trifolium | 5–20 cm | unbranched cluster | (2–)3(–4) | green, turning dull red |
Maianthemum canadense (Canada-mayflower) - [information to be added]
(click on image to enlarge)
Maianthemum racemosum (feathery false Solomon’s-seal) - [information to be added]
(click on image to enlarge)
Maianthemum stellatum (star-like false Solomon’s-seal) - [information to be added]
Maianthemum trifolium (three-leaved false Solomon’s-seal) - [information to be added]
Polygonatum (Solomon’s-seal)
[information to be added]
| plant habit | inflorescence | fruit color | |
| P. biflorum | |||
| P. pubescens |
Polygonatum biflorum (King Solomon’s-seal) - [information to be added]
Polygonatum pubescens (hairy Solomon’s-seal) - [information to be added]
(click on an image to enlarge)
Note:
1. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow Flora Novae Angliae by Arthur Haines (2011, Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-17154-9).