Maianthemum canadense Desf.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Asparagaceae

• Scientific Name

  Maianthemum canadense Desf.

• Description

  Species Description - Stem 5–20 cm; lvs (1)2(3), short-petioled to sessile, 3–10 cm, ovate to ovate-oblong, usually cordate at base; raceme erect, 2–5 cm; fls 4–6 mm wide; fr pale red, 3–4 mm thick; 2n=36. Moist woods; Lab. and Nf. to Mack., s. to Md., S.D., and in the mts. to Ky. and N.C. May, June. The common form in most of our range, extending w. to Minn., has the lvs glabrous beneath, entire or very minutely crenulate, the transverse veins usually developed; this is var. canadense. The chiefly more w. var. interius Fernald, which occasionally extends e. to O., w. N.Y., and even Mass., has the lvs hairy beneath and distinctly ciliate, with the transverse veins more obscure.

• Common Names

  Canada mayflower