Name: |
- Maianthemum, from the Latin, "May blossom"
- canadense, from the Latin, "of Canada"
- Canada Mayflower, from
- Other common names include Bead Ruby, Canada Beadruby, False Lily-of-the-Valley,
Wild Lily-of-the-Valley, Squirrel Berry (Finland), Two Leaf Solomon's Seal,
Muguet
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Taxonomy: |
- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Magnoliophyta, the Angiosperms (flowering plants)
- Class Liliopsida, the Monocotyledons
- Subclass Liliidae, the Lilies
- Order Liliales, the Lilies
- Family Liliaceae, the Lilies
- Genus Maianthemum, the Beadrubies
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 503653
- Also known as Maianthemum canadense var. interius, Maianthemum
canadense var. pubescens, Unifolium canadense
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Description: |
- An evergreen, rhizomatous perennial herb, 3"-8".
- Leaves one to three
- Flowers white, 10-40 in raceme.
- Rhizomes rooted in the litter layer with shallow extensions
into mineral soil. Annual rhizome growth 6"-12".
- A single clone can be 20' in diameter and 30-60 years old.
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Identification: |
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Distribution: |
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Habitat: |
- Dominant understory species in the sub-boreal and boreal hardwood, mixed
hardwood/conifer, and conifer forests of the US and Canada.
- Occurs under all tree species of the upland boreal forests. A minor species
in wetlands.
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Fire: |
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Associates: |
- Shrubs: Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne
calyculata), Bunchberry (Cornus
canadensis), Twinflower (Linnaea
borealis), Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum
edule
- Herbs: Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia
nudicaulis), Large Leaf Aster (Aster
macrophyllus), Blue Bead Lily (Clintonia
borealis), Gold Thread (Coptis trifolia),
Bedstraws (Galium ssp.), Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium
dryopteris), Bishop's Cap (Mitella nuda), One Flowered
Pyrola (Moneses uniflora), Bracken Fern
(Pteridium aquilinum),
One Sided Pyrola (Pyrola secunda), Rose Twisted Stalk (Streptopus
rosea), Starflower (Trientalis borealis),
Kidney Leaf Violet (Viola renifolia),
Violets (Viola spp.)
- Groundcovers: Mountain Fern Moss (Hylocomium
splendens), Schreber's Feathermoss (Pleurozium
schreberi).
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History: |
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Uses: |
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Reproduction: |
- Reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rhizomes.
- Flowers May to July
- Pollination by solitary bees, bee flies, and syrphids.
- Berries have one to four seeds; mature in 30 days.
- Some seed dispersal by birds.
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Propagation: |
- Reproduction by seed extremely poor.
- By division in early spring.
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Cultivation: |
- Hardy to USDA Zone 3 (average minimum annual temperature -40ºF)
- Shade tolerant and adaptable to a wide range of sunlight levels.
- Intolerant of high acidity (pH below 4.4 to 5.5)
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Links: |
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Comments: |
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Last Updated on
2 November, 2002
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