Maianthemum scilloideum

Maianthemum scilloideum is a perennial flowering plant. It is a terrestrial forest herb[2] from southern Mexico and Guatemala[1] and also reported from Honduras.[3]

Maianthemum scilloideum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Maianthemum
Species:
M. scilloideum
Binomial name
Maianthemum scilloideum
(M.Martens & Galeotti) LaFrankie
Synonyms[1]
  • Smilacina scilloidea M.Martens & Galeotti
  • Smilacina scilloidea var. acutifolia M.Martens & Galeotti
  • Smilacina scilloidea var. rosea Emons
  • Tovaria scilloides(M.Martens & Galeotti) Baker

Description

Plants from 15–35 cm (6–14 in) [2] tall from forked, widely spreading rhizomes with roots clumped near the base of leafy shoots. Stems are leafy, upright, hairless and smooth or ribbed. There are 6-9 leaves set 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) apart; more closely spaced near the tip of the plant.[2]

Leaves

Leaves are 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long by 2–3.5 cm (1–1 in) wide. They are either sessile and clasping or have a short, 2-3 mm long petiole. Leaf blades are hairless, shiny, oval to egg-shaped with pointed tips and rounded bases and with flat (not undulating) edges. The veins are evident.[2]

Flowering clusters

8 to 27 flowers are set in a complex raceme with a main axis 1.4 – 4 cm long that droops at first, becoming erect. The axis is ribbed, green or maroon and usually smooth. There are 4 to 8 nodes along the main axis, 2-7 mm apart and arraigned in a helix around the main axis. Each node has 2 to 3 (sometimes 4) flowers set on spreading pedicels that are usually 3.5 to 8 mm long.[2]

Flowers and fruits

The flowers have spreading white tepals 3-6 mm long. Stamens are inserted at the base of the tepals. Fruits are rounded, 6-8 mm across, green when immature, ripening to red. Flowering is from April to August, fruits are retained June to December.[2]

Distribution

Maianthemum scilloideum has been documented in Guatemala, in Honduras (La Paz) and in Mexico in the states of Chiapas, Coahuila, Guerrero, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz.[3]

Habitat and ecology

It has been found at sites from 1400 to 3500 m elevation.[3] It is a terrestrial herb forming loose colonies in understories of confier-oak forests.[2]

References
  1. Sicence, Kew. "Maianthemum scilloideum (M.Martens & Galeotti) LaFrankie". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  2. LaFrankie (October 1986). "Morphology and taxonomy of the new world species of Maianthemum (Liliaceae)". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 67 (4): 371-439.
  3. Botanical Gardens, Missouri. "Maianthemum scilloideum (M.Martens & Galeotti) LaFrankie". Tropicos. Retrieved 28 March 2021.

Bibliography

LaFrankie (October 1986). "Morphology and taxonomy of the new world species of Maianthemum (Liliaceae)". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 67 (4): 371-439.

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