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Lily of the Valley


Lily of the Valley
Photo Information
Copyright: Tairi Tappo (uduputuk) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 28 W: 24 N: 42] (226)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05
Categories: Flowers
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-12-09 13:38
Viewed: 1049
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Ruscaceae
Genus: Convallaria
Species: C. majalis (English name: Lily of the Valley; Estonian name: harilik maikelluke)

It is a woodland plant that is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe and North America. It is a herbaceous perennial plant that forms extensive colonies by spreading underground roots called rhizomes. These send up numerous stems each spring. The stems grow to 15-30 cm tall, with two leaves 10-25 cm long, and a raceme of 5-15 flowers on the stem apex. The flowers are white (rarely pink), bell-shaped, 5-10 mm diameter, and sweetly scented; flowering is in late spring. The fruit is a small red berry 5-7 mm diameter.

The leaves and flowers contain cardiac glycosides that have been used in medicine for centuries. In overdose, preparations can be poisonous; pets and children can be harmed by eating Lily of the Valley.

Lily of the Valley is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Grey Chi.

The flower is also known as Our Lady's tears since, according to legend, the tears Mary shed at the cross turned to Lilies of the Valley. According to another legend, Lilies of the Valley also sprang from the blood of St. Leonard during his battle with the dragon. Other names include May Lily, May Bells, Lily Constancy, Ladder-to-Heaven, Male Lily and Muguet.

By tradition, Lily of the Valley is sold in France in the streets on May 1st. Since 1982, Lily of the Valley is the national flower of Finland. The Norwegian municipality Lunner has a Lily of the Valley in its coat-of-arms. It is the official flower of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Kappa Sigma fraternity, Delta Omicron fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, and Alpha Phi sorority.

The name "Lily of the Valley" is also used in some English translations of the Bible in Song of Songs 2:1, although whether the Hebrew word "shoshana" originally used there refers to this species or not is uncertain. (source)
XOTAELE, SkyF, taba has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi, Tairi. Beautful image of one of my favourite flowers. With its lovely scent and delicate size it always looks beautiful. Love this shot and the interesting description. Well done. Regards, Roy.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-12-09 15:08]

Hello Tairi,
nice sseing such a wonderful Spring composition with all the cold weather we ae having. I like the colors and the wonderful frame filling composition.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • taba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 459 W: 126 N: 262] (1486)
  • [2006-12-09 15:13]

Hi Tairi
What a good compsoition and use of the light :)
Good DOF, POV sharpness and colours.
well done.
Taba

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1988 W: 6 N: 1926] (12955)
  • [2006-12-09 18:43]

Hola Tairi, bella composicióin y excelentes, tonos, encuadre y presentacion... saludos

Very nice I like it good framing with the leaves detail is good light could be better well done rgds Necip.

Delicada composición. Tonos muy suaves y colores fantásticos. La nota bastante interesante. Un saludo, JL.

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