European Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis): white Minnesota wildflowers

European Lily-of-the-valley

Plant Info
Also known as:
Scientific name:	Convallaria majalis
Family:	Lily (Liliaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe
Habitat:	part shade to shade; rich woods
Bloom season:	spring to early summer
Plant height:	4 to 10 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: From 6 to 14 white bell-shaped flowers hang down in a single raceme that extends off the top of the main stem. Each flower is about 1/3 inch long, has 6 lobes that curl back, and a stem about ½ inch long. The raceme is up to 6 inches long and nods down at the tip. The flowers are fragrant.
Leaves:: Each plant has 2 leaves oppositely attached at the top of the short main stem, or sometimes a whorl of 3 leaves. Each leaf is up to 8 inches long and 3 inches wide, oval to elliptical, tapering to a point at both ends, with many faint parallel veins. The edges are smooth.
Fruit:: Fruit is a red berry about ¼ inch across, containing 1 to 3 seeds. Not all plants produce fruit.
Notes:: This plant is a garden escapee, and toxic to both animals and humans. It is slow to spread but long lived once established, forming dense colonies and crowding out native species. There is a species of Lily-of-the-valley that is native to the eastern U.S., but not to Minnesota.

Photos taken at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids, MN May 2007

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?