国花系列:LILY OF THE 

Lily of the valley is one of the most beautiful flowers that appear in wet forests in Europe, Asia, and North America from April till June.

Every part of the plant is poisonous because it contains about 20 poisonous glycosides such as convalatoxin, convalarin, and convalamarin, as well as saponins. They cause poisoning characterized by strong headache, nausea and vomiting, slow pulse and excessive urination. The victims are often domesticated animals because the may lily is a widely distributed cultivated plant.

May lily is 15 to 30 or 40 cm high, has two 10 cm long and 4-10 cm wide leaves and small fragrant white blossoms. It grows in places, having an altitude of up to 1400 m. The fruit is a bright-red strawberry.

Its glycosides were used in the past as a source of medical products for cardiology but they have already been replaced by more effective medicines.

Soil Type - Sandy loam to clay soils

Soil ph - neutral to slightly acidic

Water - moist to dry

Light - Full Shade to full sun

Height - 6 in.

Time of bloom - Early spring

Flower colors - White ,pink

Facts: Signifies a "return to happiness". Lily of the valley is much used in bridal arrangements for their sweet perfume. Traditionally associated with May 1st, especially in France where the "muguet" is handed out at special events.

铃兰

花语：纯洁·幸福的到来

种类：百合科

原产地：日本、欧洲

花色：白

花期：初夏

●别名：君影草

又名「君影草」，但一般仍通称为「铃兰」。

这种有香味的小花，在法国的婚礼上常常可以看到。送这种花给新娘，是表示祝福新人「幸福的到来」。大概是因为这种形状像小钟似的小花，令人联想到换起幸福的小铃铛吧！另外，也因为铃兰的生长地域不大，又被称为「山谷百合」，给人一股「纯洁清新」的感觉。

传说，在森林守护神圣雷欧纳德死亡的土地上，开出了白色又具有香味的铃兰。铃兰绽放在那块冰凉的土地上，就是圣雷欧纳德的化身．．．．。

由於所有花朵都向下绽开，当切花使用时，应以细铁丝和透明胶带特别处理，让花朵看起来比较明显。

　　铃兰原产欧洲。我团不少地区有野生分布，常生于阴坡林下，耐寒，喜散射光和阴凉、湿润的环境，忌炎热。要求排水良好的沙质壤土。

繁殖

　　常用根状茎或幼芽分株繁殖。秋季地上部枯萎后掘起根状茎，取茎端的幼芽分株栽植。大的幼芽分株后翌春可开花，小的需隔１年后开花。

栽培

　　栽植根茎春季萌发后，每旬追肥１次，花茎抽出后停止施肥，花凋谢后再追肥１－２次，使根茎生长充实。天旱时注意浇水。晚秋地上部枯萎后，以根茎及其林眠芽露地越冬，并覆盖腐叶、马粪，翌年春季发芽、开花必旺。盆栽促成栽培，将处理过的根茎，在室温２０℃左右栽植，注意浇水，保持湿润，培养３－４星期后开花。