Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Restricted medicinal

Other use

Flower water is an astringent skin wash.
Podlech, D. (1996). Herbs & Healing Plants of Britain & Europe, Collins p.126

Used for heart problems in homeopathic medicine.
Podlech, D. (1996). Herbs & Healing Plants of Britain & Europe, Collins p.126

Phytochemistry

ACTIVE PRINCIPLE: all parts, flowers, fruits. convallatoxin and other cardenolides, saponins
Wink, M. (2009). Mode of Action and toxicology of plant toxins and poisonous plants. Mitt. Julius Kuhn-Inst. 421:93-111. page 99

Toxicity

Class 1b highly hazardous; cardiac glycosides inhibit Na+,K+-ATPase, cardiac glycoside intoxication, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbance, diarrhoea, dizziness, hypertension, arrythmia, coma, cardiac arrest
Wink, M. (2009). Mode of Action and toxicology of plant toxins and poisonous plants. Mitt. Julius Kuhn-Inst. 421:93-111. page 99

Geographical distribution

  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, North Caucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, China
  • Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia, Japan
  • Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia, Korea
  • Asia-Temperate, Mongolia
  • Asia-Temperate, Russian Far East
  • Asia-Temperate, Siberia
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Myanmar
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Northwest European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, South European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Finland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain
  • Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A.
  • Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A.

Convallaria majalis L.

Family: ASPARAGACEAE
Genus: Convallaria
Species: majalis L.
Common names: Lily-of-the-Valley
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Lilii conuallij
Distribution summary: Eurasia, E. U.S.A
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Deciduous woods, scrub, hedgerows, calcareous woods
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Flowers' (HSE 1B), Plants of the World (C)
Flowering months: May, June
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic


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