Lily of the valley
Synonym(s)
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis - convallis (Latin) = valley; majalis - majus (Latin) may) is a species of plant from the genus Convallaria in the family Asparagaceae. The plant is widely distributed in Europe and the north of Asia and America, and is also kept as an ornamental plant in gardens. It reaches a height of 15 - 25 cm.
Lily of the valley bears showy white, bell-shaped flowers (5 - 13 pieces) in a terminal, long-stalked raceme. The strongly fragrant flowers all point in one direction and bloom from May - June. The leaves, arise directly from the root and have a broad lanceolate shape.
Lily of the valley is also kept as an ornamental plant in gardens.
Phytotherapeutically used is dried herb consisting of leaves, flowers and stems (lily of the valley herb - Convallariae majalis herba).
General informationThis section has been translated automatically.
Convallaria majalis is the parent plant of Convalleriae herba, the lily of the valley, the whole or cut aerial parts of the plant collected during the flowering season.
The constituents of the leaves are heart-active glycosides with the main active ingredient being convallatoxin.
Preparations from lily of the valley have been used medicinally for diseases of the heart. They have a positive inotropic effect. Today they have only historical significance.