Maianthemum trifolium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Maianthemum
Species:
M. trifolium
Binomial name
Maianthemum trifolium
(L.) Sloboda
Synonyms[1]
  • Asteranthemum trifoliatum Kunth
  • Asteranthemum trifolium (L.) Nieuwl.
  • Convallaria trifolia L.
  • Smilacina trifolia (L.) Desf.
  • Tovaria trifolia (L.) Neck. ex Baker
  • Unifolium trifolium (L.) Greene
  • Vagnera pumila Standl.
  • Vagnera trifolia (L.) Morong
  • Vagnera trifolia f. bifolia Farw.
  • Vagnera trifolia f. unifolia Farw.

Maianthemum trifolium (Three-leaf Solomon's-seal, three-leaf Solomon's-plume, threeleaf false lily of the valley, smilacine trifoliée) is a species of flowering plant that is associated with extremely wet environments and is native to Canada and the northeastern United States as well as St. Pierre and Miquelon and Asia (Siberia).[2]

Description

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing erect, 10–25 cm (4–10 in) tall. It grows off spreading sympodial rhizomes with roots found only at nodes. New plants produce two petiolate foliage leaves the first year,[3] then a flowering shoot the second year with 2-4 sessile leaves.

Leaves

Fertile plants have 2-4 alternate leaves that are elliptic, 5–12 cm (1.97–4.72 in) long and 2.5–4 cm (1–1+1⁄2 in) broad.[2] Leaf bases are narrowly tapered and tips pointed.

Flowering clusters

5 to 15 flowers are produced on a simple raceme 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long. There is only one flower per node, set on a 1–3 mm (0.04–0.12 in) long pedicel.

Flowers and fruits

Flowers are trimerous, that is, flower parts are in groups of three. Each flower has 6 white tepals 2–4 mm (0.08–0.16 in) long. Fruits are berries 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide, mottled with fine red spots when young, maturing to red. Berries contain 1-3 small, rounded seeds. Flowering is May to June, berries remain on plants into September.[2]

Distribution

Found in all Canadian provinces and territories and in the USA in some northeastern states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin). Also found in St. Pierre and Miquelon and Asia (Siberia).[2]

Habitat and ecology

Maianthemum trifolium often forms dense patches in wet forests, sphagnum bogs and other wetlands and is sometimes considered to be aquatic.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Sicence, Kew. "Maianthemum trifolium (L.) Sloboda". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 LaFrankie, James V. (2002). "Maianthemum trifolium". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 26. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  3. ↑ LaFrankie (October 1986). "Morphology and taxonomy of the new world species of Maianthemum (Liliaceae)". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 67 (4): 371–439.
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