Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis ; /knvleri mdels/),[2] sometimes written lily-of-the-valley,[3] is a woodland flowering plant with sweetly scented, pendent, bell-shaped white flowers borne in sprays in spring. It is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe.[4][5] Convallaria majalis var. montana, also known as the American lily of the valley, is native to North America.[6][7]
In the APG III system, the genus is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae[14]). It was formerly placed in its own family Convallariaceae, and, like many lilioid monocots, before that in the lily family Liliaceae.
Lily Of The Valley Mp3 Free Download
Download 🔥 https://shurll.com/2yGB7Z 🔥
Convallaria transcaucasica is recognised as a distinct species by some authorities, while the species formerly called Convallaria japonica is now classified as Ophiopogon japonicus.[16]
Convallaria majalis is a native of Europe, where it largely avoids the Mediterranean and Atlantic margins.[18] An eastern variety, C. majalis var. keiskei, occurs in Japan and parts of eastern Asia. A limited native population of C. majalis var. montana (synonym C. majuscula) occurs in the Eastern United States.[19] There is, however, some debate as to the native status of the American variety.[20]
Like many perennial flowering plants, C. majalis exhibits dual reproductive modes by producing offspring asexually by vegetative means and sexually by seed, produced via the fusion of gametes.[21]
Convallaria majalis is a plant of partial shade, and a mesophile type that prefers warm summers. It likes soils that are silty or sandy and acid to moderately alkaline,[22] with preferably a plentiful amount of humus. The Royal Horticultural Society states that slightly alkaline soils are the most favored.[23] It is a Euroasiatic and suboceanic species that lives in mountains up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in elevation.[24]
Convallaria majalis is used as a food plant by the larvae of some moth and butterfly (Lepidoptera) species including the grey chi. Adults and larvae of the leaf beetle Lilioceris merdigera are also able to tolerate the cardenolides and thus feed on the leaves.[25]
Convallaria majalis is widely grown in gardens for its scented flowers and ground-covering abilities in shady locations. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[26][27] In favourable conditions it can form large colonies.
The odor of lily of the valley, specifically the ligand bourgeonal, was once thought to attract mammalian sperm.[30] The 2003 discovery of this phenomenon prompted research into odor reception,[31] but a 2012 study demonstrated instead that at high concentrations, bourgeonal imitated the role of progesterone in stimulating sperm to swim (chemotaxis), a process unrelated to odor reception.[32]
All parts of the plant are potentially poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children.[8][9][33] If ingested, the plant can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and irregular heartbeats.[29]
In 1956, the French firm Dior produced a fragrance simulating lily of the valley, which was Christian Dior's favorite flower. Diorissimo was designed by Edmond Roudnitska.[34] Although it has since been reformulated, it is considered a classic.[34][35] Because no natural aromatic extract can be produced from lily of the valley, its scent must be recreated synthetically; while Diorissimo originally achieved this with hydroxycitronellal, the European Chemicals Agency now considers it a skin sensitizer and its use has been restricted.[36][37]
Lily of the valley has been used in weddings[39] and off-season can be very expensive.[40] Lily of the valley was featured in the bridal bouquet at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.[40][41] Lily of the valley was also the flower chosen by Princess Grace of Monaco to be featured in her bridal bouquet.[citation needed]
At the beginning of the 20th century, it became tradition in France to sell lily of the valley on international Labour Day, 1 May (also called La Fte du Muguet or Lily of the Valley Day) by labour organisations and private persons without paying sales tax (on that day only) as a symbol of spring.[42]
Lily of the valley is worn in Helston (Cornwall, UK) on Flora Day (8 May each year, see Furry Dance) representing the coming of "the May-o" and the summer. There is also a song sung in pubs around Cornwall (and on Flora Day in Cadgwith, near Helston) called "Lily of the Valley"; the song, strangely, came from the Jubilee Singers from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.[43]
The plant has been used in folk medicine for centuries.[44] There is a reference to "Lilly of the valley water" in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel Kidnapped, where it is said to be "good against the Gout", and that it "comforts the heart and strengthens the memory" and "restores speech to those that have the dumb palsey".[45] There is no scientific evidence that lily of the valley has any effective medicinal uses for treating human diseases.[8][29]
The name "lily of the valley", like its correspondences in some other European languages, is apparently a reference to the phrase "lily of the valleys" (sometimes also translated as "lily of the valley") in Song of Songs 2:1 ( ).[48] European herbalists' use of the phrase to refer to a specific plant species seems to have appeared relatively late in the 16th[49] or 15th century.[50] The Neo-Latin term convallaria (coined by Carl Linnaeus) and, for example, the Swedish name liljekonvalj derives from the corresponding phrase lilium convallium in the Vulgate.
Lily of the valley is a rhizomatous perennial in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family native to Eurasia. This groundcover grows to a height of 10 inches and a spread of 1 to 2 feet with lush green leaves and delicate, fragrant bell shaped white flowers.
Plant in dappled to partial shade to full shade areas in moist organically rich soil. It is tolerant of summer drought and heavy clay or dry soils and is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits. Plant at a depth of 3 inches to the base of the rhizome with 15 to 25 plants per square foot and top with mulch every fall.. If you wish to enjoy the bright red berries then genetically different plants must be placed in proximity of each other to promote cross pollination.
Use this ground cover in shady areas, planted under shrubs, in the fronts of beds, in rock, cottage, or woodland gardens. The flowers make an excellent addition to bouquets, so consider planting these in the front of a cutting garden. It resists erosion so can be planted along a slope.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Few to no insect problems. Leaf spot may occur. They naturalize easily and it is reported as invasive in WI and AK and may become weedy and aggressive in regions with moist, cool, winter climates. Native alternatives should be considered, see the left column for recommendations.
I have lived in Northern California my entire life and, yet, I continue to make new discoveries of hidden gems every year. Recently, I saw a post on Instagram from a fellow travel blogger about a field of calla lily flowers in nearby Monterey County. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was in a spot I have driven past so many times. If you are keen to check out calla lily valley in Garrapata State Park, read on for the details.
The valley itself is pretty small so you could easily spend a short amount of time here snapping a few photos. Since it is a decent drive for most visitors, you can continue a very short walk to Garrapata State Beach or get back in your car and continue down the coast more. The beach itself is quite expansive and provides lots of options for playing in the water, walking along the beach and building sand castles.
If you go on a weekend during the peak bloom, be prepared for crowds and a longer walk along Highway 1. If at all possible, consider coming on a weekday. We came around 3pm on a Friday and there were only a few other groups around.
Absolutely, yes! While you may get significantly less time to admire the flowers when a curious toddler spots the beach, it is still worthwhile. We did have our hiking backpack carrier but opted to have our son walk (or we carried him) since the walk was relatively short and not too strenuous. Do keep a close eye on children as there is a small stream flowing from from the hills to the sea and I can imagine the water flow picks up after rain.
Do be sure to pack a pair of sturdy water shoes that are great for both hiking and beach time as well as some sand toys, a beach blanket, snacks and some drinks. Avoid bringing a wagon or stroller as it will be very difficult to maneuver.
The Calla Lily is not native to California. It is grown as an ornamental plant, and most invading populations are found near human habitations in coastal prairies and wetlands. They are considered an invasive species in some areas of the U.S.
Lily of the valley is a popular choice for the early spring landscape, and is one of the most fragrant blooming plants in the spring and early summer throughout the northern temperate zone. Grown most successfully as a ground cover, this plant spreads quickly to create large blankets of petite white flowers.
The stems of lily of the valley plants are covered with tiny white, nodding bell-shaped flowers that have a sweet perfume and medium-bright green leaves that are lance-shaped, 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) high and 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to12.5 cm) wide.
This moisture-loving plant forms a spreading mass with red seed pods remaining after flowering, which makes lily of the valley attractive after blooming and very carefree. Growing lily of the valley plants is easy, as they will remain perennial in USDA Zones 2-9. 152ee80cbc