Maianthemum tatsienense

Description

Maianthemum includes the former genus Smilacina and is a genus of perennial herbaceous flowering plant with fleshy, persistent rhizomes. It is widespread across much of North America, Europe and Asia,and may be terrestrial, aquatic or epiphytic. It is characterized by simple, unbranched stems that are upright, leaning or hanging down and have 2-17 foliage leaves. Leaves are simple and may clasp the stem or be short-petiolate. The inflorescence is terminal and either a panicle or a raceme with few to many pedicelate flowers. Most species have 6 tepals and 6 stamens; a few have parts in 4s. Tepals are distinct in most species and all of similar size. Flowers are spreading, cup-shaped or bell-shaped and usually white, but lavender to red or green in some species. Fruits are rounded to lobed berries containing few to several seeds. The genus is widespread across much of North America, Europe and Asia. The majority of species are spring-flowering forest herbs, requiring shaded, moist conditions and cool temperatures. Some however (e.g. Maianthemum monteverdense) are epiphytes. Others such as Maianthemum stellatum grow in diverse habitats from sand dunes to forest under-stories. And Maianthemum trifolium and Maianthemum paludicola are found in full sun in open wetlands.M. trifolium is sometimes considered aquatic. The species that are forest herbs generally begin growth in early spring, with leaves expanding before the tree canopy fully develops. Epiphytic tropical species usually grow new shoots in the dry season.