Maianthemum stellatum (L.) Link
star-flowered false Solomon's-seal (starry false lily of the valley)
Asparagaceae
(Previously in Liliaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
star-flowered false Solomon's-seal (starry false lily of the valley)
Asparagaceae
(Previously in Liliaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a slender, pale rhizome; stems erect to arched-ascending, 20-60 cm tall, finely spreading-hairy.
Leaves:
Stem leaves 5 to 11, alternate (often in 2 rows), flat to folded, lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 5-15 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, tapering to a sometimes weakly clasping base, unstalked, short-hairy on under surface, the margins entire; basal leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an unbranched, 2- to 7-cm long, terminal cluster of 5 to 10 (15), spreading, stalked flowers, the stalks at least as long as the flowers; flowers creamy-white, star-shaped, of 6 similar, distinct tepals, the tepals 4-7 mm long, narrowly oblong to lanceolate, spreading; stamens 6, shorter than tepals; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Berries, globe-shaped, at first greenish-yellow striped with blue-purple, eventually dark blue to reddish-black, 7-10 mm wide; seeds usually 1 or 2.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Maianthemum stellatum
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
872 | 0 | 2500 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
15 | -2 | 230 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
212 | 0 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
4 | 1 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
2543 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
ICH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(57), BWBS(117), CDF(6), CWH(336), ESSF(171), ICH(518), IDF(428), MH(2), MS(184), PP(66), SBPS(45), SBS(498), SWB(2) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Moist to mesic (occasionally dry) forests, streambanks, clearings and meadows in the montane to lower alpine zones; common throughout BC, except the north coast; N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to MA, PA, VA, TN, AR, OK, NM, AZ and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Convallaria stellata L.
Smilacina liliacea (Greene) Wynd
Smilacina sessilifolia Nutt. ex Baker
Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf.
Smilacina stellata var. crassa Victorin
Smilacina stellata var. mollis Farw.
Smilacina stellata var. sessilifolia (Nutt. ex Baker) G. Hend.
Smilacina stellata var. sylvatica Victorin & Rouss.
Vagnera liliacea (Greene) Rydb.
Vagnera sessilifolia (Nutt. ex Baker) Greene
Vagnera stellata (L.) Morong