Convallaria majalis L., Transcaucasian lily of the valley – Convallaria transcaucasica Utkin ex Grossh. and Keiske's lily of the valley - Convallaria keiskei Mig., sem. lily - Liliaceae.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
PHARMACOPOEIAL ARTICLE
Lily of the valley grassFS.2.5.0022.15
Lily of the valley leaves
Lily of the valley flowers
Convallariae herba
Convallariae folia
Convallariae flores In returnGFXI,issue. 2, st. 49
Collected and dried grass (during the flowering period), leaves before flowering and at the beginning of flowering, flowers (during the flowering period) of the perennial wild-growing herbaceous plant lily of the valley - Convallaria majalis L., Transcaucasian lily of the valley – Convallaria transcaucasica Utkin ex Grossh. and Keiske's lily of the valley - Convallaria keiskei Mig., sem. lily - Liliaceae.
AUTHENTICITY
External signs
Whole raw materials. Grass. A mixture of whole, less often broken leaves, inflorescences with peduncles, individual flowers and pieces of peduncles. The leaves are elliptical or lanceolate in shape with a pointed apex, tapering at the base and gradually turning into long closed sheaths, individual or 2-3 encircling each other. The leaf margin is entire, the venation is arcuate. The leaf is thin, brittle, with a bare and slightly shiny surface. The leaves are up to 20 cm long, up to 8 cm wide. The inflorescence is a one-sided loose raceme of 3 – 12 (20) yellowish flowers on a ribbed bare peduncle, up to 20 cm long, up to 1.5 mm thick. The flowers are bisexual with a corolla-shaped bell-shaped perianth, fused-petaled, with 6 short reflexed teeth, on short pedicels, with membranous linear bracts. The color of the leaves is green, less often brownish-green, the flowers are yellowish, and the peduncles are light green. The smell is weak. The taste of the aqueous extract cannot be determined (the raw material is poisonous).
Leaves. Solid, less often broken, elliptical or lanceolate in shape with a pointed apex, tapering at the base and gradually turning into long vaginas; separate or joined together in 2–3 groups, the leaf margin is entire, the venation is arcuate. The leaf blade is thin, brittle, with a bare and slightly shiny surface. The length of the leaves is up to 20 cm, width - up to 8 cm. The color of the leaves is green, less often brownish-green. The smell is weak. The taste of the aqueous extract cannot be determined (the raw material is poisonous).
Flowers. A mixture of inflorescences with remains of peduncles up to 20 cm long, flowers and sometimes pieces of peduncles. The peduncle is ribbed, glabrous, up to 1.5 mm thick, with a one-sided loose raceme of 3 – 12 (20) yellowish flowers. The flowers are bisexual with a corolla-shaped bell-shaped perianth, fused-petaled, with 6 short reflexed teeth, on short pedicels, with membranous linear bracts. There are 6 stamens, on short filaments attached to the base of the perianth; ovary superior, three-lobed, style with widened three-lobed stigma. The color of the peduncles is light green, the flowers are yellowish. The smell is weak. The taste of the aqueous extract cannot be determined (the raw material is poisonous).
Crushed raw materials. Grass. When viewed under a magnifying glass (10×) or a stereo microscope (16×), pieces of leaves (green, less often brownish-green), peduncles (weak green) and flowers (yellowish) are visible, passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm. The smell is weak. The taste of the aqueous extract cannot be determined (the raw material is poisonous).
Leaves. Pieces of leaves various shapes passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm. The color of the leaves is green, less often brownish-green. The smell is weak. The taste of the aqueous extract cannot be determined (the raw material is poisonous).
Microscopic signs
Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials. Leaves. When examining a leaf from the surface on both sides, epidermal cells of oval, rectangular, wide fusiform, diamond-shaped and combined shapes with straight walls should be visible, elongated along the length of the leaf. The cell walls have a distinct thickening. The stomata are submerged, oval, surrounded by 4 epidermal cells (tetracite type). Under the upper epidermis, cells of the palisade tissue should be visible, elongated across the width of the leaf (“lying down” palisade tissue). The spongy tissue is loose and consists of branched cells elongated across the width of the leaf. In individual mesophyll cells, bundles of thin raphides and large needle-shaped crystals (styloids) of calcium oxalate are visible.
Flowers. The epidermis of the corolla on both sides consists of cells with smooth thin walls of a polygonal shape. The cuticle is longitudinally wrinkled. The stomata are submerged, rounded, oriented along the length of the perianth, surrounded by 4–5 epidermal cells (tetra- and pentacite type). The epidermis of the denticles has papillary processes, along the edge with single-celled fringed hairs. The perianth tissue contains idioblasts containing mucus and thin raphides of calcium oxalate, and there are large needle-shaped crystals - styloids. Pollen is spherical in shape with a smooth surface.
The epidermis of the peduncle consists of rectangular and rectangular-spindle-shaped cells with straight walls and a smooth cuticle. Stomata of tetracite type. Idioblasts, raphides and styloids are the same as in the perianth.
Drawing – Lily of the valley grass
1 – fragment of a sheet with raphides (a) and needle-shaped crystals (b).
(250×); 2 – fragment of the epidermis of the peduncle with raphides (a) and stomata of the tetracite type (b) (125×); 3 – fragment of the upper epidermis of the petal with a folded cuticle (a) and tetracite-type stomata (b) (200×);
4 – fragment of a petal with papillary outgrowths (a) and pollen (b) (125×).
Determination of the main groups of biologically active substances
Thin layer chromatography
Vanillin solution 1% in perchloric acid solution 10%. 0.1 g of vanillin is dissolved in 10 ml of 10% perchloric acid solution. The solution is used freshly prepared.
About 2.0 g of lily of the valley leaves, grass or flowers, crushed to the size of particles passing through a sieve with 1 mm holes, are placed in a round-bottomed flask and 60 ml of 70% alcohol are added. The flask is connected to a reflux condenser and heated in a boiling water bath for 1 hour; after cooling, the extract is filtered through a paper filter into a 100 ml volumetric flask. 40 ml of 70% alcohol are added to the meal, connected to a reflux condenser and heated in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes, after cooling, the solution is filtered into the same volumetric flask, the volume of the solution is adjusted to the mark with the same alcohol and mixed. 10 ml of the solution is evaporated in a boiling water bath to approximately 3 ml. The volume of the solution is adjusted to 10 ml with water, 1 ml of lead acetate solution of 10% is added and mixed (solution A).
The resulting solution A is filtered into a separatory funnel through a paper filter previously moistened with water. The filter is washed
5 ml of water, add 30 ml of a mixture of chloroform - alcohol 96% (8:2) and extract for 5 minutes. After separating the layers, the chloroform bottom layer is filtered through a paper filter containing 3.0 g of anhydrous sodium sulfate moistened with 5 ml of a chloroform-alcohol mixture into a porcelain cup. The extraction operation with a chloroform-alcohol mixture is repeated twice more, using 25 ml of this mixture. The chloroform extract is filtered through the same filter into the same porcelain cup, the filter is washed with 10 ml of a chloroform-alcohol mixture (8:2). The combined chloroform extract is evaporated to dryness in a boiling water bath. The dry residue is dissolved with 2 ml of 70% alcohol (solution B).
50 μl of solution B is applied to the starting line of an analytical chromatographic plate with a layer of silica gel with a fluorescent indicator on an aluminum substrate measuring 5x15 cm. The plate with the applied sample is dried in air, placed in a chamber pre-saturated for 1 hour with a mixture of solvents chloroform - acetone - methanol (6:2:2) and chromatographed in an ascending manner. When the front of solvents passes about 80–90% of the length of the plate from the starting line, it is removed from the chamber and dried until traces of solvents are removed. The plate is treated with a 1% vanillin solution in a 10% perchloric acid solution and kept (in drying cabinet) at a temperature of 80 °C until zones are clearly detected.
The chromatogram of solution B should show at least 3 crimson adsorption zones; detection of other adsorption zones is allowed.
- To 3 ml of eluate (see section “Quantitative determination”), prepared for quantitative determination, add 2.5 ml of neutral sodium picrate solution and 0.5 ml of sodium hydroxide solution
2%, after 10 minutes an orange-yellow color appears (glycosides).
TESTS
Humidity
Whole raw materials, grass, leaves – no more than 14%. Whole raw materials, flowers – no more than 12%. Crushed raw materials, grass, leaves – no more than 14%.
Raw material grinding
Whole raw materials, grass – Whole raw materials, leaves – particles passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 3 mm - no more than 3%. Crushed raw materials, grass – particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm - no more than 5%; particles passing through a sieve with a hole size of 0.5 mm - no more than 5%. Crushed raw materials, leaves – particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm - no more than 5%; particles passing through a sieve with a hole size of 0.5 mm - no more than 5%.
Foreign matter
Inflorescences. Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials. Grass - not less than 5%.
Raw materials that have changed color. Whole raw materials. Grass, leaves, flowers - no more than 5%. no more than 5%.
Separate flower stalks. Whole raw materials. Flowers– no more than 1%.
Organic impurity. no more than 1%. Whole raw materials. Flowers – no more than 0.5%. Crushed raw materials. Grass, leaves - no more than 1%.
Mineral impurity. Whole raw materials. Grass, leaves - no more than 0.5%. Whole raw materials. Flowers – no more than 0.3%. Crushed raw materials. Grass, leaves - no more than 0.5%.
Heavy metals
Radionuclides
In accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph “Determination of radionuclide content in medicinal plant materials and medicinal herbal preparations.”
Pesticide residues
According to requirements.
Microbiological purity
According to requirements.
quantitation
Whole raw materials, grass. Whole raw materials, leavesWhole raw materials, flowers. Biological activity of 1 g must be no less than 190 ICE and no more than 200 ICE. Crushed raw materials, grass. Biological activity of 1 g must be no less than 110 ICE and no more than 120 ICE. Crushed raw materials, leaves. Biological activity of 1 g must be no less than 80 ICE and no more than 90 ICE.
Biological activity
The activity of flowers, grass and leaves of lily of the valley is determined by a biological method on frogs in comparison with standard sample(CO) lily of the valley extract in accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph " Biological methods assessment of the activity of medicinal plant materials and drugs containing cardiac glycosides.”
Test on frogs. The test is carried out on grass frogs, injecting solutions into the lymphatic femoral sacs (under the skin) or into the heart (into the ventricular cavity), or on water frogs, injecting the solution under the skin, into the ventricular cavity or into a vein. The standard and test samples are prepared on the day of the experiment.
An analytical sample of raw materials is crushed to the size of particles passing through a sieve with holes measuring 7 mm, and dried in an oven for 2 hours at a temperature of 40 - 60 ° C; 5.0 g (exactly weighed) of the dried raw material is crushed to a particle size of 1 mm and extracted with 110 ml of 96% alcohol in a Soxhlet apparatus for 6 - 8 hours. The extract is collected in a cylinder with a capacity of 100 ml and the volume is adjusted with 96% alcohol to the mark (1 :20).
For subcutaneous administration, add 6 ml of water (1:4) to 2 ml of CO extract of lily of the valley.
The alcohol-water extract (1:20) is converted into an alcohol-water extract in a ratio of 1:30 (leaves), 1:40 (grass), 1:60 (flowers). To do this, 20 ml of alcohol-water extract (1:20) is evaporated in a boiling water bath to 2 ml and the volume is adjusted to 30 ml (leaves); 40 ml (grass) and 60 ml (flowers) with water.
The resulting turbidity or precipitate is not filtered off, but 1–2 drops of sodium bicarbonate solution of 5% are added. The alcohol-water extract obtained in this way (1:20) is tested on frogs.
Having determined the smallest doses of the standard and test samples (in ml per mass of a grass frog or in ml per 1 g of mass of a water frog), the content of LED in 1 g of raw material is calculated.
Note. In case of overestimated biological activity of raw materials (according to the number of LEDs), calculation of the amount of medicinal plant raw materials required for production medicinal product should be carried out according to the formula given in.
Packaging, labeling and transportation
According to requirements.
Growing the lily of the valley plant in your garden is, on the one hand, simple and exciting, but on the other hand, quite dangerous. This representative of forest flora is poisonous, although few people know about it. The green parts of the plant contain the strongest cardiac glycosides. When they hit large quantity into the human body can be fatal. Therefore, we advise you to read the botanical description
Convallaria majalis and the rules for its use in various spheres of human life.
It also talks about how forcing is carried out. It is known that the May lily of the valley can be easily made to bloom on the eve of the New Year or International Women's Day on March 8th. It is only important to follow agricultural techniques. And it is described in the appropriate section.
Look at the May lily of the valley in the photo, which shows different types of plants in the garden and in the forcing:
Botanical description of lily of the valley
Perennial plant from the Liliaceae family.
Homeland - Europe, Northern Asia, North America.
Other names are hare's antennae, juvenile, forest tongue.
The description of the May lily of the valley should begin with the fact that it is the most elegant and most fragrant of the early spring flowers. The name is translated from Latin as “lily of the valleys, blooming in May.” The appearance of the lily of the valley fully corresponds to this poetic name.
This is a perennial herbaceous polycarpic plant 15–30 cm high. The underground part of the plant is represented by a system of rhizomes with adventitious roots. The horizontal part of the rhizome has elongated, and the vertical part has shortened internodes.
Botanical description lily of the valley would not be complete without pointing out the fact that the above-ground part of the rhizome is formed by an annual shoot, which consists of a shortened axis with three to seven scale-like and one or two (rarely three) green lanceolate or oblong-elliptic leaves. The leaf sheaths are closed and form an aboveground false stem. A peduncle develops in the axil of the upper scale-like leaf.
The inflorescence is one-sided, racemose. Bracts membranous. Flowers number 3-13. The perianth is simple, corolla-shaped, white, clepalatal, rounded bell-shaped, 4-5 mm long and 3-9 mm wide, with six teeth. There are 6 stamens, their threads are attached to the base of the perianth. The gynoecium is syncarpous; carpels 3; single style, rounded-triangular, with tripartite stigma. Blooms in late May - early June. Flowering duration is 15-20 days. Each shoot blooms with a break of several years. Lily of the valley is pollinated by insects and wind.
Poisonous plant lily of the valley and its leaves, flowers, fruits
The life of the poisonous plant May lily of the valley in the spring begins with the appearance of sprouts on the surface of the soil, similar to a thick awl. In this form, the lily of the valley is difficult to recognize; the sprouts are too different from an adult plant. But time passes, the sprout lengthens, its end turns green. And now the characteristic lily of the valley leaves have unfurled.
Now everyone can determine which plant is in front of them. Lily of the valley flowers appear later than the leaves. First, a peduncle stalk with small greenish ball-buds emerges. Then the buds turn white, and finally the wonderful, fragrant snow-white flowers open. Flowering occurs from bottom to top: the lowest flower blooms first. Lily of the valley does not bloom for long, especially in warm weather. Before you have time to look back, the flowers have already darkened, shriveled, and withered.
By autumn, the lily of the valley ripens fruits - orange berries the size of a pea. These beautiful berries, however, are completely inedible and, in addition, are also poisonous. They have a specific unpleasant taste, although they are sweetish.
The leaves of the May lily of the valley dry out quite early. At the time of golden autumn, when the forest is dressed in a colorful outfit, they lose their green color and become translucent, like parchment paper. In late autumn, nothing remains of the plant above the ground.
Lily of the valley overwinters in the form of a long, thin, matchstick-like rhizome located shallow in the soil. It is the rhizome in the spring that gives rise to those above-ground shoots like awls. Each sprout grows from a special bud. The end of the rhizome can grow horizontally for a long time, due to which the lily of the valley spreads in the forest.
Perhaps not everyone knows about one interesting feature Lily of the Valley: It has three types of leaves. One type is ordinary green leaves, familiar to everyone. The other is the scaly leaves that develop at the base of the regular green ones. The third is bracts in the form of very small scales, one for each flower, at the base of the peduncle.
The fruits of the May lily of the valley ripen in August - September. The fruit is a round orange-red berry with 2-6 seeds. Weight of 1000 seeds is about 20 g.
Growth
May lily of the valley is widespread in forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, and the Far East. In its western part, it extends from the Arctic Circle to almost the mouth of the Dnieper and Danube, to the east it narrows, wedging into the southern Cis-Urals along with broad-leaved forests. The northernmost location of the lily of the valley is the south of the Kola Peninsula. The second part of the range covers the western and central parts of the North Caucasus.
May lily of the valley grows on soils of different mechanical composition, more often on sandy loam and sandy soils with different acidity (pH 3.0-7.8). Humus content 0.7-13.5%; mobile forms of phosphorus - from 1 to 10, potassium - 1.5 - 20 mg per 100 g of soil. Lily of the valley prefers (especially in the northern part of its range) rather rich neutral and slightly acidic soils.
In the northern part of the range, conditions of fresh meadow moisture are favorable for lily of the valley, and in the southern part - intense damp meadow moisture.
Within its growing area, the lily of the valley’s relationship to lighting conditions also changes. Lily of the valley can withstand illumination of 1.5-90% of total radiation. This is a light-loving plant in the north and shade-tolerant in the south.
Lily of the valley is often a component of the grass cover of broad-leaved, small-leaved and coniferous forests. It often dominates the grass cover of birch, aspen, oak and linden forests, forming lily of the valley forest types. It is also characteristic of the herbaceous cover of complex pine forests, but is also found in other types of pine forests, even in lichen and sphagnum pine forests, in mixed oak-pine and hornbeam-pine forests and in complex spruce forests. In the forest-steppe and steppe zones, lily of the valley grows in floodplain and ravine forests, along the bottom of ravines and on slopes of northern and western exposure. Occasionally settles in water meadows. In the Caucasus, it is abundant in oak, oak-pine, hornbeam and chestnut-oak forests, as well as in floodplain broad-leaved forests.
May lily of the valley is a forest anthropogenically declining plant. Generative shoots of lily of the valley are intensively exterminated by the population, and this, of course, negatively affects the state of the population as a whole, which ceases to rejuvenate due to regularly appearing shoots. Nevertheless, the plant exhibits significant resistance under conditions of heavy trampling; however, the lily of the valley cannot tolerate prolonged intensive trampling and extermination and gradually falls out of the herbaceous layer. In the reserve it is found occasionally under the canopy of valley forests. Grows in small groups with an abundance of 1-2.
Reproduction
Lily of the valley reproduces mainly vegetatively, when, when old sections of the rhizome die off, the previously intact individual splits into individual plants; Thus, the lily of the valley captures new territories. The growth rate of the rhizome reaches more than 80 cm per year, the maximum age of the rhizomes exceeds 40 years.
When propagated by seeds in nature, it blooms in the seventh year of life.
Seed propagation in natural conditions is important in the development of new habitats: seeds are carried by birds and animals living in the ground that eat fruits with seeds. Some of the seeds that have passed through the animal’s food tract retain their germination and, when they enter places of disturbed phytocenoses, favorable conditions For germination and rooting, developed plants are sometimes produced from seeds.
Lily of the valley shoots grow in late April - early May. During the growing season, lily of the valley forms one generation of leaves, their lifespan is 3-4 months. The inflorescence is laid in the year preceding flowering, in early July. In autumn, the inflorescence in the bud is completely formed.
Forcing lily of the valley in May
You can admire lily of the valley not only in May, but at any time of the year, as it is easy to force. In autumn, rhizomes of garden lilies of the valley with well-developed flower buds are selected. By appearance such a bud is blunt-pointed, thick, directed upward from the rhizome. Forest lilies of the valley are not very suitable for forcing, as they produce small flowers or do not bloom at all.
For forcing, the rhizomes of May lilies of the valley are dug up in the garden after the first autumn frosts. It is more convenient to do this with a pitchfork, then the earth wakes up through the teeth. The central flower buds (they are thick and blunt) are separated from the lateral vegetative ones; the largest of them are taken for early forcing, the rest - for more late dates. Place them head to head, tie them into bundles of 25–30 pieces and trim all the roots by about a third. Before planting for forcing, rhizomes are buried vertically in sand or peat in boxes and stored in greenhouses or a cool room. Plants selected for early forcing are lightly moistened from time to time; with the onset of cold weather, they are transferred to the basement after a short freezing at a temperature of minus 5–6 °C. Freezing facilitates distillation and promotes more abundant flowering. During storage in the basement, rhizomes should not be watered.
The first forcing can begin in December. The roots of rhizomes taken for planting are cut off, leaving them 12 cm long, and immersed for 12–16 hours in water at a temperature of plus 32–35 °C. This speeds up flowering by 6–8 days. After the bath, the rhizomes are planted in pots with a diameter of 10–12 cm of 5–6 or in boxes of 25–30 pieces with a mixture of peat, turf soil and moss, covered with moss on top, placed in a dark place with a temperature of 25–30 ° C and often spray with warm water. Here they should be until the buds appear. In room conditions, such a temperature can be created only by installing lilies of the valley near a heat source. You can darken it with caps made of black paper or an empty pot overturned on top. By the time large flower shoots form, the plants are exposed to light, and normal flowering begins. The forcing lasts 25 days. Blooming lilies of the valley can be moved to a cool place: they will bloom longer.
The quality of inflorescences during forcing in December can be improved by additional lighting. Lamps daylight suspended above the plants at a height of 30 cm at the rate of 50 watts per square meter. The lighting is done from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 10 p.m. In this case, the leaves are colored more intensely, and the flower stalks are stronger.
For forcing after January 15, planting material is not treated with warm water, otherwise the leaves will grow strongly to the detriment of flowering. Lilies of the valley are taken from the room where they were stored and planted immediately. Maintain a temperature of 25 °C, from February – 20–22 °C. Closer to spring, reduce the duration of darkening. On bright sunny days, light darkening is required. Flowering occurs in 18–20 days. Lilies of the valley used in forcing are not suitable for further cultivation.
Use of May lily of the valley
May lily of the valley is not only a beautiful forest flower. This is also important medicinal plant. Flowers, herbs, and lily of the valley leaves are used in medicine. Valuable drugs that regulate cardiac activity are obtained from its aerial parts. Fresh flowers infuse with alcohol and get lily of the valley drops. Essential oil is extracted from the stems.
IN folk medicine Lily of the valley flowers are used in the form of tincture and infusion for neuroses and heart defects, dropsy, epilepsy. In Western European countries it is used for paralysis and to strengthen the nervous system.
Lily of the valley fruits are used for tonic cosmetic masks. Decorative, used in phytodesign.
Interestingly, the delicate scent of lily of the valley kills lilac flowers. At the same time, lilies of the valley placed with forget-me-nots retain their freshness longer.
This beautiful plant with a delicate scent of flowers has poisonous properties. Lily of the valley contains glycosides, including convallatoxin and saponin - convallarin, which primarily affect the heart. Convallarin has an irritating effect on the digestive tract. Active toxic substances dissolve in water, so the water in which a bouquet of lily of the valley stands becomes poisonous. Sometimes children get poisoned by chewing the stems and leaves of lily of the valley, or eating its berries, the seeds of which are the most poisonous, which can cause poisoning. In small doses, lily of the valley glycosides are used for medicinal purposes.
Raw materials are harvested at the beginning of flowering. Cut with scissors at the very base or tear off flowers with arrows with your hands. Dry quickly to inactivate enzymes that destroy cardiac glycosides, indoors, under shelters and in dryers at a temperature not exceeding 40–60 °C. Lily of the valley herbs remain active for 6 months.
Lily of the valley raw materials are harvested in huge quantities - hundreds of tons annually in our country alone. Lily of the valley is collected in different types forests. However, it has been established that in some types of forest the plant has less medicinal value, and in others it has more.
Interesting facts about lily of the valley.
Many peoples revere lily of the valley as a symbol of spring and joy, although this plant is not the earliest spring plant.
Tightly curled lily of the valley leaves sprout through the forest floor only with the onset of stable warm weather. The twisted two basal elliptical leaves are straightened, moved apart, and between them there is a faceted green leafless stem with a one-sided inclined cluster of greenish buds. In a few days, the forest air will be filled with a gentle, bewitchingly unique, incomparable with any other aromas, a persistent lily of the valley scent.
The unopened buds of the lily of the valley face upward, but as soon as the flowers begin to bloom, the pedicels descend and the mouth of the flower faces the ground. This protective device protects pollen from rain and dampness. The smell of lily of the valley fascinates not only people, pollinating insects flock to it, most often bees and bumblebees. As a result of pollination, fruits are formed - juicy bright berries with a small amount of seeds.
Lily of the valley (lat. Convallaria) is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the class monocots, superorder Lilianae, order Asparagusaceae, family Asparagus, subfamily Nolinaceae, genus Lily of the valley. The article provides a description of the genus. This beautiful flower is rare and is listed in the Red Book.
Folk names of lily of the valley: lily of the valley, lily of the valley, May lily, forest bell, May lily, field lily, convalia, gladysh, voronets, juvenile, forest tongue, meadow cherry, dog tongue, Mayevka, hare salt, hare ears, doe ear, shirt, young.
Origin of the word "lily of the valley"
This plant received its scientific definition, borrowed from the Latin language, thanks to the works of the famous botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus. Since this flower was previously classified as a member of the Liliaceae genus, the scientist assigned it the Latin name “Lilium convallium,” which translated means “lily growing in the valley.”
Despite the fact that the word “lily of the valley” entered the Russian dictionary in the 17th century, there is still no consensus on its etymology. Some scientists believe that it came from Polish language, in which the flower is called "lanuszka" because of its similarity elongated leaves with a pointed tip and the ears of a timid doe. Others attribute the origin of the name, composed of two words "incense" and "to breathe", to the magnificent smell of its fragrant flowers. The last group of researchers is of the opinion that the whole point is completely smooth leaves plants, and its definition is a modified word “smooth”.
Lily of the valley: description, appearance, characteristics and photos
Lilies of the valley are perennial herbaceous plants that have a horizontal, well-developed and branched root system with numerous, shallow, thin roots. The root system of lily of the valley is fibrous, with elongated internodes. At the nodes of the rhizome there are scale-like leaves, from the axillary buds of which new roots develop.
From the vertical rhizome of lily of the valley grow 3-5 lower scale-like leaves small in size with closed tubular vaginas. They are usually brown, dark purple or light green in color. For the most part, the lower leaves are hidden in the ground. Also, 2 (sometimes 3) basal leaves grow from the top of the rhizome, having an oval-lanceolate or oblong-elliptical shape. The leaves of lily of the valley are large, smooth, juicy green in color, slightly pointed at the tips, and have arcuate veining.
Between the leaves at the top of the rhizome hides one large bud, from which a single stem lily of the valley from 15 to 30 centimeters high (although garden lilies of the valley can have a height of up to 50 cm). The peduncle has no leaves, although there are some specimens that have thread-like leaves under the inflorescences.
The vertical rhizomes of lily of the valley produce leaves every year, and lilies of the valley bloom once every 2-3 years. Lilies of the valley bloom for the first time at the age of 7. At 10-12 years old, plants lose the ability to form a peduncle. Over the years, the horizontal rhizomes rot, and their system breaks up into individual individuals.
Above the middle of the herbaceous stem of lily of the valley, in early May, a fragrant cluster begins to form, which includes from 6 to 20 drooping flowers. The long curved pedicels of lily of the valley have membranous bracts. The stem itself is twisted in a spiral, so the flowers point in one direction, even though the pedicels extend from different sides of the triangular flower arrow.
Six-tooth perianth Lily of the valley, painted snow-white or pale pink, resembles in appearance a miniature bell with 6 short thick stamens, at the end of which there are oblong yellow anthers. The style is short, with a small tripartite stigma. The tips of the perianth segments are pressed tightly against each other; when the flower opens, they bend slightly; when flowering fades, they bend very strongly.
Flowers Lily of the valley do not have nectaries and attract insects (, ) with a strong aroma and pollen. In the absence of insects, self-pollination can occur.
When do lilies of the valley bloom?
Flowering period Lily of the valley is quite short and lasts only 15-20 days. The lower flowers bloom before the upper ones. Flowering time depends on temperature environment. Typically, lilies of the valley begin to bloom in the spring in early to mid-May and finish flowering in mid-June. At this point, the inflorescences, which are 4 to 9 millimeters long and 3 to 7 millimeters wide, begin to darken. Soon, an ovary appears in each flower, from which an orange-red berry develops.
Fetus lily of the valley with a diameter of 6 to 8 millimeters has almost round shape and a three-chamber structure. Each chamber contains from 1 to 2 spherical seeds. The formation of berries ends by the beginning of July. Ripe fruits can stay on the plant for a very long time. They are included in the diet of chipmunks and birds, although for humans and many animals all parts of the lily of the valley are very poisonous.
The smell of lilies of the valley
Smell forest lily of the valley fresh, slightly tart, has a slightly cool and very delicate note. At times it is a little reminiscent of the smell mixed with the amber of damp wood. The delicate aroma of lily of the valley flowers is often used by perfumers around the world to create exquisite perfumes.
IN natural conditions lilies of the valley grow in all European countries: Portugal, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, France, Austria. This plant can be found in the meadows and mountain slopes of China, the countries of Asia Minor, Japan and parts of the United States of America. The distribution area of these flowers includes Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.
In Russia, lily of the valley grows in its European part, in the mountainous territory of Crimea, in Transbaikalia, on the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in the Amur region and Primorsky Territory, in the Far East and Siberia.
The most suitable for the growth of the flower are not only deciduous, mixed or coniferous forests, where lilies of the valley grow on the edges or clearings, but also meadows located in river floodplains and on mountain slopes. Due to uncontrolled and sometimes predatory collection, lilies of the valley are currently listed in the Red Book.
Types of lilies of the valley, photos and names
Many researchers believe that the genus Convallaria is monotypic, that is, it consists of one species (May lily of the valley). However, some classifications identify species that are slightly different from the main one. morphological features, which are caused by the geographical isolation of plants. Below is a description of the varieties of lilies of the valley.
- May lily of the valley (lat. Convall aria majalis )
Grows in Spain and Portugal, Italy and Greece, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and other European countries. Its distribution area includes most of the territory of Russia, as well as the countries of Transcaucasia. In the wild, the May lily of the valley is found in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, as well as on the edges.
Root system perennial plant branched and consists of large number small and thin roots spreading shallow under the soil surface. Two or three basal leaves have the shape of an oblong ellipse with a pointed apex. The stem of the May lily of the valley reaches a maximum of 30 centimeters in height. The inflorescence consists of small flowers hanging on a long peduncle, resembling a spherical bell in shape, the bottom of which is cut through by six teeth bent outward. The number of small white or light pink fragrant flowers included in the inflorescence can reach 20 pieces.
- Lily of the valley Keizke(Keiske lily of the valley, Far Eastern lily of the valley) (lat. Convallaria keiskei )
It grows in both light deciduous and coniferous forests with abundant moss litter, in abandoned clearing areas, as well as in meadows located in floodplains. The plant is found in Russia on the territory of Transbaikalia, as well as in the vast taiga expanses of the Far East and Primorye, on the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in Northern China and Japan. Some scientists consider Keizke's lily of the valley to be a subspecies of the May lily of the valley.
The plant has a long branched rhizome. The lower leaves of the Keizke lily of the valley are scale-like and colored brown or purple shade. The height of the stem can reach 18 centimeters, and the length of the basal leaves can be no more than 14 cm. The flowers can reach one centimeter in diameter, their number in the inflorescence ranges from 3 to 10. The bottom of the petals is ovate-triangular.
- Mountain lily of the valley(lat. Convallaria montana )
Distributed throughout North America, where it is found only in the mid-mountain zone of several states: Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, as well as Virginia and West Virginia. Many scientists believe that the mountain lily of the valley is a subspecies of the May lily.
This is a plant with a well-developed root system and a low stem. The lanceolate-shaped basal leaves are up to 35 centimeters long and no more than 5 centimeters wide. The inflorescence of mountain lily of the valley includes from 5 to 15 wide-bell-shaped flowers, the length of which does not exceed 8 millimeters. Closer to autumn, reddish-orange berries with a diameter of no more than 9 millimeters ripen on the plant, which are three-chambered fruits containing several round seeds.
Varieties of lilies of the valley, photos and names
Since the 15th century, gardeners, inspired by the aroma of lilies of the valley, have cultivated this plant and developed great amount garden varieties. Among them the most interesting are:
- Albostriata
A variety of lily of the valley, which, even after the end of the flowering period, pleases the eye of gardeners thanks to its decorative stripes of creamy white, covering the surface of the sheet plate.
- Aurea
A variety of lily of the valley with yellow leaves.
- Aureovariegata
Lily of the valley with leaves that are covered with longitudinal yellow stripes.
Taken from the site: www.vanberkumnursery.com
- Flore Plena(Flore Pleno)
Lily of the valley with unusual white inflorescences, which consist of 10-12 rather large double flowers. Plant height is 15-25 cm.
- Grandiflora
Lily of the valley with large white flowers and large green leaves. Has very pleasant aroma.
- Green Tapestry
Lily of the valley variety with variegated leaves yellow-green color.
- Hofheim
A variety of lily of the valley whose leaves have a beige border. The flowers are white.
- Prolificans
A low-growing variety of lily of the valley with numerous double white flowers. It blooms for a long time and spreads a wonderful aroma.
- Rosea
A variety of lilies of the valley, known for its flowers painted in soft pink tones. Up to 14 small flowers grow on one brush.
- Victor Ivanovich
Very tall lily of the valley. Its height reaches 50 cm. The inflorescence contains from 9 to 19 large white flowers. It blooms for about 20 days, and then delights gardeners with bright red fruits.
Properties of lily of the valley, benefits and use in medicine
Lily of the valley is a medicinal plant, beneficial features which have been known since ancient times. All above-ground parts of the plant (stems, leaves, flowers), which are collected during the period of abundant flowering, are used as medicinal raw materials.
Preparations made from lily of the valley are used as choleretic agents, as well as to treat cholecystitis and relieve inflammatory processes that occur in the bile ducts of the liver. Lily of the valley drops are used to treat heart failure and poor circulation. With the help of preparations based on lily of the valley, many diseases are treated or alleviated:
- neuroses and insomnia;
- high blood pressure (hypertension);
- headache;
- some eye diseases;
- rheumatic conditions and atherosclerosis;
- fever;
- swelling;
- certain types of allergies.
Contraindications for taking lily of the valley medications
Despite the beneficial properties, products made from parts of the lily of the valley should be used very carefully. Lily of the valley preparations have contraindications:
- sharp or chronic diseases liver/kidney;
- cardiosclerosis, endocarditis, myocarditis;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- pronounced organic changes in the cardiovascular system;
- myocardial infarction;
- angina pectoris;
- ventricular tachycardia;
- allergy;
- pregnancy;
- children's age (use with caution).
In any case, you should consult your doctor before taking lily of the valley medicines.
Lily of the valley harm, poisoning and symptoms
Lily of the valley flowers have a very strong aroma which can lead to headaches. That is why it is advisable to regularly ventilate the room in which the flowers are located.
You should also remember that lily of the valley is a poisonous plant. Lily of the valley berries (fruits) are especially poisonous. Therefore, you should take medications and tinctures only as prescribed by a doctor, while strictly observing the dosage. Symptoms of lily of the valley poisoning:
- dizziness and headache;
- severe nausea, which is soon replaced by continuous vomiting;
- drowsiness and general weakness;
- decreased heart rate (bradycardia), up to cardiac arrest;
- convulsions;
- flickering before the eyes;
- loss of consciousness.
If such symptoms are observed, immediate resuscitation measures must be taken. Otherwise, death may occur.
To save the life of a person who has been poisoned by drugs made from lily of the valley, it is necessary to immediately call an emergency ambulance. While the medical team is on the way, you should:
- using a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) or simple boiled water rinse the victim’s stomach, causing a gag reflex;
- help the victim take any sorbent drug that is suitable Activated carbon, enterosgel, polysorb or sorbex;
- Give a cleansing enema, ensuring the return of clean water.
Growing and caring for lilies of the valley
Lighting
Lily of the valley is a herbaceous plant that is not demanding of natural conditions; it is not afraid of frost, but does not tolerate drafts. It is comfortable for it to grow and bloom in the slight shade of trees and shrubs, but if the shading is strong, then the lily of the valley may stop blooming.
How to grow lilies of the valley from seeds and using the vegetative method
Wild lilies of the valley can reproduce by seeds from ripened berries, and root system within a year it can grow to almost 25 cm. Despite this, lily of the valley is quite rare plant, which is listed in the Red Book.
Garden, artificially bred forms of lilies of the valley come to the rescue of flower growers. Their only drawback is their lower frost resistance. Selected species are also bred by sowing seeds in the ground, but more often they resort to vegetative method- using rhizomes. In the first case, the plant can bloom only after 6 years, in the second - in the third year.
Growing lilies of the valley from seeds is quite simple. Lily of the valley seeds are sown at the very beginning of autumn, then by spring they will already germinate. You can sow them in mid or late spring.
For vegetative propagation of lily of the valley, small pieces of rhizome with buds and roots are used as planting material. The diameter of the sprouts, their presence flower bud or leaf primordia depend on the age of the root system. If the root cross-section exceeds 6 mm and has a rounded top, then flowering can be expected already in the first year. If its diameter is smaller and the top is sharp, only leaves will grow in the first year. Dividing the root system can be done both in autumn and spring. When working with planting material, you need to wear gloves, as the plant is poisonous.
May lily of the valley - Convallaria majalis L. " style="border-style:solid;border-width:6px;border-color:#ffcc66;" width="250" height="350">
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Other names: Voronets, Gladysh, Konvaliya, Lily of the valley, Forest tongue, Field lily, Mayevka, Rejuvenator, Meadow cherry.
Diseases and effects: acute and chronic heart failure stages I and II, cardiosclerosis, myocardial dystrophy, paroxysmal tachycardia, defects and neuroses.
Active substances: cardiac glycosides, convallyatoxin, convalloside, flavonoids, steroid saponins, malic and citric acids, essential oil, sugars, starch, cardenolides, saponin, convallarin, convalloside, coniallytoxoloside, convallamarin, locundizide.
Time to collect and prepare the plant: May June.
Botanical description of lily of the valley
May lily of the valley is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family with a creeping branched rhizome and thin roots at the nodes. From the tops and lateral branches of the rhizome shoots arise, consisting of 3-6 vaginal leaves. The leaves of the lily of the valley are basal, long-petiolate with an oblong-elliptical pointed leaf blade, thin, entire-edged, bright green, bluish on the upper side and shiny on the lower side.
The flower arrow is smooth, triangular in the upper part, 15-20 cm high. The perianth is snow-white with slightly bent six teeth. Inside the flower, the pistil is surrounded by six stamens on short filaments attached at the base of the perianth.
The fruit is a juicy three-lobed spherical orange-red berry. It blooms in May, the fruits ripen in August - September. The plant is poisonous.
Distribution of lily of the valley
In the south of Ukraine, lily of the valley grows in small quantities, along river valleys among bushes in the Odessa, Nikolaev, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions; it is not advisable to harvest lily of the valley. In Crimea it grows in foothill and mountain forests, in glades, forest edges, in open forests, among bushes. The reserves of raw materials here are up to 1 ton, but the lily of the valley needs protection. To save wild plants it is successfully propagated in private plots and gardens.
Rules for harvesting lily of the valley
The herb, dried flowers and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. Flowers and grass are harvested at the beginning of flowering, since after flowering their activity decreases sharply. The grass must be cut at a height of 3-5 cm from the soil surface. Leaves begin to be collected during the period when they are most active, 1-2 weeks before flowering, and end when the plants fade.
Every year, lily of the valley inflorescence can be harvested in small quantities if you rationally observe and follow necessary measures. To ensure the restoration of the thickets, repeated harvesting of lily of the valley in the same area should be carried out no earlier than after 2 years. When harvesting, you must follow the collection rules. It is forbidden to pull out plants with rhizomes, as this leads to their death; flower brushes are cut approximately 3 cm below the base of the lower flower - at a height of 3-5 cm from the soil surface. It is best to dry raw materials in dryers with forced ventilation at a temperature of 50-60°C or in heated rooms with open windows. In dry weather, lily of the valley can be dried in well-ventilated attics, stirring frequently. Packed in bags or bales weighing up to 50 kg or in plywood boxes lined with thick white paper weighing 10-20 kg.
Shelf life up to one year.
Lily of the valley raw materials are stored in a group of potent raw materials, in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Medical significance of lily of the valley
All parts of the plant contain cardiac glycosides, the main of which are convallatoxin and convalloside; flavonoids, steroid saponins, malic and citric acids, essential oil, sugars, starch. In addition, lily of the valley leaves contain little-studied cardenolides, saponin, and convallarin.
The glycosides convalloside and coniallate toxoloside were found in the seeds. The glycoside convallamarin was isolated from the roots.
IN last years A new glycoside, locundizide, was found in the leaves, flowers and seeds of lily of the valley, which is used for the synthesis of corticotropic drugs. Lily of the valley preparations increase the strength of heart contractions and minute volume, slow down atrioventricular conduction, lower venous pressure, and have a calming effect on the central nervous system.
Lily of the valley glycosides have an effect similar in nature to strophanthin, but unlike it they have a calming effect. Herbs, leaves and flowers, as well as preparations of lily of the valley are widely used for acute and chronic heart failure of stages I and II, cardiosclerosis, myocardial dystrophy, paroxysmal tachycardia, defects and neuroses.
Of the lily of the valley glucosides, the drug convallatoxin, which has high biological activity, is used in medical practice. In addition to pure glycoside, a tincture is used, 15-20 drops 2-3 times a day, lily of the valley concentrate and the new galenic preparation korglykon, containing the amount of glycosides purified from ballast substances. The drugs are part of a number of complex cardiac medications.
Lily of the valley inflorescences are included in the collection according to M.N. Zdrenko. Lily of the valley essential oil is highly valued in the perfume industry.
Lily of the valley reproduces by rhizomes, cuttings, or worse, by seeds. It is better to choose a site for lily of the valley in a shaded place, protected from dry winds. Can be planted at the end of October or in early spring(at the end of March) in pre-watered furrows with row spacing of 60 cm every 8-12 cm in a row with a planting depth of 77 cm.
The survival rate of lily of the valley is good (up to 95%). Plant regrowth autumn planting It is celebrated in April, and in spring - two weeks later. It should be noted that in the first year of the growing season the plant develops extremely slowly and requires good care. Under cultural conditions, lily of the valley exhibits sufficient resistance to unfavorable conditions development. During the growth period it requires moisture, although adult plants are very resistant to soil drought and tolerate low winter temperatures well. It spreads quickly by underground parts of rhizomes with well-developed renewal buds, producing many shoots annually. The coefficient of increase in the number of plants increases every year, and the yield of raw materials also increases. At the end of the fourth year of vegetation it is 100 g per m2.
When a perennial lily of the valley is completely cut off, the plant is restored within one year.
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General information about the May lily of the valley
Family: Liliaceae = Liliaceae
Botanical name e: Convallaria majalis L. Convallaria majalis means "lily of the valleys, blooming in May."
Pharmacy: lily of the valley herb - Convallariae herba (formerly: Herba Convallariae), lily of the valley tincture - Convallariae tinctura (formerly: Tinctura Convallariae).
Generic name:
Folk names: forest bell, May lily, field lily, convalia, gladysh, voronets, rejuvenator, forest tongue, meadow lily, lily of the valley, dog's tongue, mayweed, hare's salt, doe's ear; hare ears, chemise, young, culprit, eye grass, May lily, Mary's bells, snow droplets. The name was given by Carl Linnaeus according to the ancient Latin name lily of the valley "Lilium convalium", which translates as lily of the valleys.
Description:
May lily of the valley is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family with a creeping branched rhizome and thin roots at the nodes. The underground rhizome is no thicker than a goose feather, bearing near the top several pale small lower leaves, half hidden in the ground
From the tops and lateral branches of the rhizome shoots arise, consisting of 3-6 vaginal leaves. The leaves of the lily of the valley are basal, long-petioled with an oblong-elliptical pointed leaf blade, thin, entire, bright green, bluish on the upper side and shiny on the lower side.
The flower arrow is smooth, triangular in the upper part, 15-20 cm high. The perianth is snow-white with slightly bent six teeth. Inside the flower, the pistil is surrounded by six stamens on short filaments attached at the base of the perianth.
The plant has a strong but pleasant aroma and blooms from late May to June.
The fruit is a juicy three-lobed spherical orange-red berry that ripens in August - September. The plant is poisonous
Places of growth:
Lily of the valley is widespread in temperate zone northern hemisphere - in Crimea, the Caucasus, the Eastern part of Siberia, the Far East and the European part of Russia.
Listed in the Red Book!!
Parts used:
For cooking medicines flowers, leaves, and grass collected at the beginning of flowering are used.
Start of collection and preparation
When harvesting lily of the valley, you must be careful, as this plant is very poisonous. The herb, dried flowers and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. Flowers and grass are harvested at the beginning of flowering, since after flowering their activity decreases sharply. The grass must be cut at a height of 3-5 cm from the soil surface. Leaves begin to be collected during the period when they are most active, 1-2 weeks before flowering, and end when the plants have finished flowering.
The raw materials must be immediately delivered to the drying site, as the leaves and flowers quickly turn brown or yellow. It is better to dry raw materials in dryers at a temperature of 50-60°C or in rooms with good drafts. Leaves, flowers or a mixture of them are laid out in a thin layer on fabric or paper. The shelf life of grass and leaves is 2 years, flowers - 1 year.
To ensure the restoration of the thickets, repeated harvesting of lily of the valley in the same area should be carried out no earlier than after 2 years. When harvesting, you must follow the collection rules. It is forbidden to pull out plants with rhizomes, as this leads to their death.
One ancient herbalist says about the tincture of lily of the valley flowers: “Trembling is more precious than gold and is associated with all ailments.” Human rumor attributed the lily of the valley to amazing properties: according to the author of another ancient book, he helped “from chokhu, from gomozu and from wife’s zhurba.”
For the first time, serious research on this plant was carried out in the clinic of Professor S.P. Botkin, and already in 1881, tincture of lily of the valley was officially recognized as a medical drug: the substances it contains regulate the functioning of the heart.
Today, lily of the valley preparations are used for cardioneurosis, heart failure, and are combined with valerian and hawthorn preparations.
In medicine, zelenin drops are used, consisting of tinctures of lily of the valley, valerian and belladonna with menthol, which are used mainly for heart neuroses.
Active substances: Its terrestrial parts contain cardiac glycosides (convallotoxin, convalloside, convallotoxol), which enhance the contractile activity of the heart.
Back to top Traditional Medicine:
In Bulgaria aboveground part Lily of the valley is used for endocarditis, arrhythmias, pregnancy, and increased physical stress.
But lily of the valley preparations that are not purified from saponins are contraindicated for gastritis and acute diseases of the liver and kidneys!
I also use lily of the valley as a lotion for eye diseases.
In England, an aqueous infusion of lily of the valley flowers is used to strengthen the nervous system, against headaches and as an anti-infective agent.
In Germany, an infusion of lily of the valley flowers in wine is considered good remedy with paralysis.
Magic:
Lily of the valley is the guardian of fidelity and purity, but in evil hands it can become a homewrecker. These flowers cannot be collected, bought or given as a gift on the eve of the new moon, when their scent, according to legend, awakens lust and throws women into the arms of sin.
Lily of the valley berries used by a home-grown magician can make him a victim of creatures from the subtle world, eager to master someone's will. Lily of the valley flowers, picked on the morning of the full moon, on the contrary, promote high romantic love and make the loss of virginity less painful. It is believed that a man becomes more tender and careful, and a woman more passionate, if there is a bouquet of lilies of the valley, collected during the waxing moon, at the head of the bed.
In Ancient Scandinavia, the lily of the valley was considered the flower of the goddess of the rising sun; bonfires were lit and holidays were held in its honor; lily of the valley flowers were even sacrificed to the gods.
Lily of the valley is very popular in France. In this country there is even a custom to celebrate the Lily of the Valley Festival every year, which is held on the first Sunday in May. The French believe that on May 1st, plants and objects are endowed with special magical properties.
If you see a lily of the valley in a dream, it will mean the innocence of the one with whom you entered into any relationship. If you see a dry lily of the valley in a dream, it means that you demand too much from life and from people, and therefore are often irritated and dissatisfied.
Myths and legends:
There is a legend that says that the lily of the valley mourned the passing spring so much that its heart, wounded by grief, stained its tears with blood. According to another legend, the lily of the valley grew from drops of the blood of St. Leonard, who was wounded in a battle with a terrible dragon.
According to Christian legend, flowers grew from the tears of the Mother of God when she mourned her crucified son, and in Ancient Greece They believed that these were drops of sweat from the goddess of the hunt Artemis (Diana in Roman), who was fleeing the persecution of fauns.
If you believe the ancient Russian legend, the appearance of the lily of the valley is associated with the sea princess Volkhova. The tears of the princess, saddened by the fact that Sadko gave his heart to the earthly girl Lyubava, falling to the ground, sprouted a beautiful and delicate flower - a symbol of purity, love and sadness.
In some villages it is said that the soft scent of lily of the valley bells lures the nightingale from its nest and leads it to its bride. In Ukraine there is a legend that a lily of the valley grew in the place where the tears of a girl who was waiting for her betrothed from a long journey fell.
The hero of another legend, the handsome Lily of the Valley, fell in love with the divine Venus and begged her to stay with him forever. But Spring could not stay. Lily of the valley was so hurt that blood came out of his heart and colored his green tears red. That is why the green fruits of lily of the valley turn red after ripening.
In some ancient fairy tales, lilies of the valley are sprouted beads from Snow White's scattered necklace.
In others - the happy silvery laughter of the mermaid Mavka, rolling out like pearls through the forest when she first felt the joy of love.
Some argue that lilies of the valley are nothing more than Sunny bunnies, which gnomes use as lanterns at night.
Celtic legend says that lilies of the valley are the treasures of the elves. Everyone knows that elves do not favor people, but what is the reason for this enmity? Legend has it that human curiosity and greed are to blame for everything. Beneath the green canopy of the forest lies the elven kingdom. The beautiful elves fluttered on their mother-of-pearl wings and did not have any troubles. But one day their carefree existence came to an end. One day, young hunters wandered into the thicket of the forest to ambush wild animals. Having made themselves comfortable in the bushes, they held their breath and froze. And then one of the hunters saw an elf flying past. The little one was carrying something very heavy, he was puffing with effort, so he did not hear the rustling steps of the hunters who followed him. Seeing where the elf led them, people froze in admiration - a mountain of pearls rose under the old spreading tree. The elf flew up to it and placed another pearl on its very top. People looked at all this splendor in fascination. Finally, one of the hunters could not stand it and crept up to the elves' treasures. He decided to take one tiny pearl for himself. But as soon as his hand touched the pearl, the mountain collapsed, and tiny white balls scattered across the clearing. Here other hunters could not resist the temptation and rushed to collect pearls. The elven king himself flew in with his retinue at the noise. And at that very moment the pearls turned into thousands of beautiful fragrant flowers - the elven king decided to sacrifice his treasure so that people would not get it! And since then, the elven people, at every opportunity, take revenge on people for the loss of their treasure. And lilies of the valley became the favorite flowers of the elves, who rub them every night with pieces of fabric woven from moonlight.
On the Volga they tell such a story. A young warrior was leaving on a campaign. Before you leave motherland, he gave his beloved a necklace of freshwater pearls so that she would remember him. Every evening a girl came to the outskirts and waited for her betrothed. But the squad returned from the campaign, and the unfortunate beauty learned that the enemy’s arrow had struck her lover. Beside herself with grief, she ran into the forest, fell into the grass and burst into tears. And when she calmed down a little, she noticed that the necklace given by her betrothed had broken, and the pearls had scattered on the grass. The girl cried even more bitterly and began to look for beads in the grass, but could not - the grass was thick, and the tears clouded her vision. And then the gods took pity on the unfortunate woman, and the lost pearls sprouted into delicate flowers, the buds of which are always sadly bowed to the ground.
The lily of the valley once adorned the emblem of doctors of medicine. In some ancient portraits, the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who was also a skilled healer, is depicted with a bouquet of lilies of the valley in his hand.
Back to top Recipes, infusions, decoctions:
Infusion
An infusion of lily of the valley flowers is widely used in medicine - it helps increase heart contractions, slows down the pulse, and reduces swelling. The infusion is prepared from 200 ml of boiling water and 4 g of raw materials. It should be taken 1 tablespoon every 2 hours.
Use in cooking:
Lily of the valley is not only a healing, but also a poisonous plant. Its berries should never be taken into the mouth. However, this applies to the entire plant.
Rumors about the toxicity of the water in the vase where the lily of the valley stood are still somewhat exaggerated.
In humans, poisoning occurs in case of prolonged inhalation of the lily of the valley aroma; most animals die from eating lilies of the valley, although the poison of the lily of the valley has absolutely no effect on sika deer; moreover, it is their favorite delicacy.