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Maianthemum dilatatum

Common name:	Wild Lily Of The Valley	Family:	Convallariaceae
Author:	(Wood.)Nels.&MacBr.	Botanical references:	1, 60
Synonyms:	Maianthemum kamtschaticum ((J.F. Gmel. ex Cham.) Nakai.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	N. America.
Habitat:	Shaded or moist streambanks and open to dense woods if they are moist[60], in humus-rich slightly acid soils[200] to 1000 metres[60].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	M. bifolium ssp. kamtschaticum[B,P] M. bifolium var. dilatatum[G] M. bifolium var. kamtschaticum[B,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Two-leaf False Solomon's-seal [B], Twoleaf False Solomon's Seal [P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	dilatatum = expanded;

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 0.2m by 0.5m . It is hardy to zone 3 and is not frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade.

Edible Uses

Fruit; Leaves.

Fruit - raw or dried for later use[118, 177]. The fruits are about the size of small peas and are produced in terminal clusters on the plants, they are not regarded very highly[256]. North American Indian children would eat the raw unripe green berries straight from the plant[256]. Adults would usually harvest the green berries and then store them in water until they turned red and were soft[256]. Alternatively they would dry the green berries and then boil them for a few minutes[256].
Young leaves - cooked[177].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Infertility; Ophthalmic; Poultice; TB.

A poultice made of the whole or the mashed leaves has been applied to boils, burns, cuts and wounds[257].
The fruit has been used as a good medicine in the treatment of tuberculosis[257].
The root has been chewed in order to correct sterility[257]. (This probably means to restore fertility[K]) An infusion of the pounded roots has been used as a wash for sore eyes, whilst the chewed roots have been used as a poultice on the eyes[257].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires a cool shady moist but not wet position[1, 187]. Plants tolerate warm summers only if the soil remains moist[200].
A mat forming plant, it can be invasive in good conditions[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown quite thinly it as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring. Stored seed should be sown in late winter in a cold frame, it might take 18 months to germinate. Allow the seedlings to grow on in the pot for their first year, giving liquid feeds as necessary to ensure that they do not go hungry. Divide the plants into individual pots once they have died down in late summer. Grow them on in pots for another year or more until large enough to plant out[K].
Division as new growth commences in the spring. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[C] Taxon data. from the CalFlora database.
Images from the CalPhoto database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for maianthemum dilatatum (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[60] Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955
A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.

[118] Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981 ISBN 0-295-95258-X
A small book, it is a good guide to useful plants in Western N. America.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[256] Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1
Excellent little handbook about the native food plants of Western Canada. Good descriptions of the plants and their uses with colour photos of most plants.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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