Star-flowered lily of the valley, Starry False Solomon's-seal
Maianthemum stellatum

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A small plant. It keeps growing from year to year. The stem is leafy and 10-40 cm high. The rootstock in long. The leaves do not have leaf stalks but clasp the stem. They have very small hairs underneath. The flowers are small and cream-coloured. The fruit are green berries with red stripes. They turn black when ripe.

There are about 25 Smilacina species. Also put in the family Convallariaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp places in the Rocky Mountains often amongst alders and willows.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are chewed and the juice swallowed. The fruit are eaten preferably cooked.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Asteranthemum stellatum (L.) Nieuwl.; Asteranthemum vulgare var. uniflorum (Pursh) Kunth; Convallaria hybrida Marchal; Convallaria stellata L.; Smilacina liliacea (Greene) Wynd; Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf.; Tovaria sessilifolia Baker; Tovaria stellata (L.) Neck. ex Baker; Unifolium liliaceum Greene; Unifolium sessilifolium (Baker) Greene; Unifolium stellatum (L.) Greene; Vagnera angustifolia Raf.; Vagnera leptopetala Rydb.; Vagnera liliacea (Greene) Rydb.; Vagnera sessilifolia (Baker) Greene; Vagnera stellata (L.) Morong; Vagnera stellata var. mollis Farw.;