Maianthemum
| Maianthemum | |
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| Maianthemum racemosum | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Nolinoideae |
| Genus: | Maianthemum F.H.Wigg. |
| Species | |
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See text. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Smilacina (Desf.) |
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Maianthemum (Latin Māia "May" and Greek ánthemon "flower"; including former Smilacina) is a genus of about 30 species of rhizomatous, herbaceous, perennial flowering plants, native to the understory of woodlands in North America, Guatemala, Panama, western Europe and eastern Asia.[1] In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae).[2]
Because of genetic similarity, similar fruits, and evidence that the 4-tepal species evolved from a 6-tepal species, the genus Smilacina was combined with Maianthemum in the late 20th century.[3]
Like many lilioid monocots, both Maianthemum and Smilacina were formerly included in the family Liliaceae. The genus has also been placed in the former family Convallariaceae, and resembles the closely related Polygonatum, hence the common name "false Solomon's seal".[1]
Flowers have six tepals, reduced to four in M. canadense, M. bifolium and M. dilatatum.
Species
Species include:
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References
- ^ a b RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ^ Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L. & Fay, M.F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2): 132–136, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
- ^ "Maianthemum". Flora of North America.
