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Lily of the valley
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 0 N: 1564]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (5137) |
| Genre: Plants |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-05-02 |
| Categories: Flowers |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2008-03-31 21:21 |
| Viewed: 612 |
| Points: 20 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch] |
Latin name - Convallaria majalis
Convallaria majalis, commonly known as the Lily of the Valley or Lily-of-the-Valley, is the only species in the genus Convallaria in the flowering plant family Ruscaceae, formerly placed in the lily family Liliaceae or in its own family called Convallariaceae. This woodland plant is native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe and a limited native population in Eastern USA (Convallaria majalis var. montana.) It is a herbaceous perennial plant that forms extensive colonies by spreading underground stems called rhizomes that send out stolons. These send up numerous stems each spring. The stems grow to 15-30 cm tall, with one or two leaves 10-25 cm long, flowering stems have two leaves and a raceme of 5-15 flowers on the stem apex. The flowers are white tepals(rarely pink), bell-shaped, 5-10 mm diameter, and sweetly scented; flowering is in late spring, in mild winters in early March. The fruit is a small orange-red berry 5-7 mm diameter that contains a few large whitish to brownish colored seeds that dry to a clear translucent round bead 1 to 3 mm wide. Plants are self-sterile, and colonies of one clone do not set seed.
There are three subspecies that have sometimes been separated out as distinct species by a few botanists.
Convallaria majalis var. keiskei - from China and Japan with red fruit and bowl shaped flowers
Convallaria majalis var. majalis - from Eurasia with white midribs on the flowers.
Convallaria majalis var. montana - from the USA with green tinted midribs on the flowers.
The leaves and flowers contain cardiac glycosides including convallatoxin, 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. It also contains convallamarin, which has effects similar to digitalis. Medieval herbalists used it instead of foxglove.
In the First world war it was used to treat victims of Mustard gas.
The flower is also known as Our Lady's tears since, according to Christian 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. George during his battle with the dragon. Other names include May Lily, May Bells, Lily Constancy, Ladder-to-Heaven, Male Lily and Muguet.
Traditionally, Lily of the Valley is sold in the streets of France on May 1. Lily of the Valley became the national flower of Finland in 1982. 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" (usually denoting a rose) originally used there refers to this species or not is uncertain. The meaning of this flower is "You will find Happiness."
Add from Ishi, many thanks for it.
This species is not native to Israel. In modern Hebrew we use the name "Shoshan", male form of “Shoshanna” (as mentioned in Song of Songs), for Lilium, and specifically form Lilium candidum, known as the “Madonna Lily", which is native to Israel. The name "Shoshanna" was mistakenly used for the rose, since Hebrew was revived in the 19th century. And finally the name Shoshan comes probably from "shesh", Hebrew for six, referring to the six-fold symmetry of the Lily family. It is not connected to “sasson” (happiness).
Nikon d200
nikko 105 VR F2.8
iso 320
f10
1/25 |
gerbilratz, dejo, boreocypriensis, keanhoon, Ena, jaycee, oanaotilia, goldyrs has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- arfer
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(0) - [2008-03-31 21:23]
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Hello Gert
Just marking the post for now.
Rob
Lovely photo, especially the way it curves up and around. I like the lighting, the composition, and the subject is so fragile, yet sharp. However, there's the right amount of softness to remind me of how delicate these are. Lovely shot as I said earlier.
Hi Gert, lovely composition. The DoF is excellent and the diagonal pose is really effective. Fine work. tfs
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- dejo
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(2056) - [2008-03-31 22:32]
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Hello,
Just marking for now!
be back later. :)
Hi Gert,
Good morning my friend! Splendis close-up capture of this beautifull flower, Lady's tears with excellent details, superb DOF and POV. Thanks for sahring this beauty.
Cheers,
Bayram
Nice composition, would prefer a little bit more space for the top portion. Nice BG too.
TFS
Best regards,
Kean
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- Ena
(2341)
- [2008-04-01 6:11]
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Hi Gert,
Beautiful capture!
Good composition!
Lovely details!
TFS
Ena
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- jaycee
(14893)
- [2008-04-01 8:35]
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Hi Gert,
The Lily of the Valley is beautiful! The flowers look so sweet and delicate. Nice soft colors and a great background. I love the diagonal composition.
Jane
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- Ishi
(1888)
- [2008-04-01 11:07]
- [+]
Hi Gert,
Lovely picture, indeed, and a very interesting note too.
Let me add something about the Hebrew... This species is not native to Israel. In modern Hebrew we use the name "Shoshan", male form of “Shoshanna” (as mentioned in Song of Songs), for Lilium, and specifically form Lilium candidum, known as the “Madonna Lily", which is native to Israel. The name "Shoshanna" was mistakenly used for the rose, since Hebrew was revived in the 19th century. And finally the name Shoshan comes probably from "shesh", Hebrew for six, referring to the six-fold symmetry of the Lily family. It is not connected to “sasson” (happiness).
Cheers!
Ishi
An amazing shot, Gert!
And the song you quote for the title, is equally inspiring!
Very well done!
Cheers!
Goldy
