Maianthemum

Maianthemum
Maianthemum racemosum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Maianthemum
F.H.Wigg.
Synonyms[1]
  • Smilacina Desf.
  • Unifolium Zinn
  • Vagnera Adans.
  • Valentinia Heist. ex Fabr.
  • Polygonastrum Moench
  • Bifolium G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Schreb.
  • Sciophila Wibel.
  • Monophyllon Delarbre
  • Sigillaria Raf.
  • Styrandra Raf.
  • Asteranthemum Kunth
  • Jocaste Kunth
  • Medora Kunth
  • Maia Salisb.
  • Neolexis Salisb.
  • Tovaria Neck. ex Baker
  • Oligobotrya Baker

Maianthemum includes the former genus Smilacina and is a genus of perennial herbaceous flowering plants with fleshy, persistent rhizomes. It is widespread across much of North America, Europe and Asia,[1][2][3][4] and may be terrestrial, aquatic or epiphytic.[4] It is characterized by simple, unbranched stems that are upright, leaning or hanging down and have 2–17 foliage leaves. Leaves are simple and may clasp the stem or be short-petiolate. The inflorescence is terminal and either a panicle or a raceme with few to many pedicelate flowers. Most species have 6 tepals and 6 stamens; a few have parts in 4s. Tepals are distinct in most species and all of similar size. Flowers are spreading, cup-shaped or bell-shaped and usually white, but lavender to red or green in some species. Fruits are rounded to lobed berries containing few to several seeds.

  1. ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. ^ Flora of China, Vol. 24 Page 217, 舞鹤草属 wu he cao shu, Maianthemum F. H. Wiggers, Prim. Fl. Holsat. 14. 1780.
  4. ^ a b Flora of North America, Vol. 26 Page 206, Maianthemum F. H. Wiggers, Prim. Fl. Holsat. 14. 1780.