Maianthemum

Maianthemum
Maianthemum racemosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Nolinoideae
Genus:	Maianthemum F.H.Wigg.
Synonyms[1]
Smilacina Desf. Unifolium Zinn Vagnera Adans. Valentinia Heist. ex Fabr. Polygonastrum Moench Bifolium G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Schreb. Sciophila Wibel. Monophyllon Delarbre Sigillaria Raf. Styrandra Raf. Asteranthemum Kunth Jocaste Kunth Medora Kunth Maia Salisb. Neolexis Salisb. Tovaria Neck. ex Baker Oligobotrya Baker

Maianthemum includes the former genus Smilacina and is a genus of perennial herbaceous flowering plants with fleshy, persistent rhizomes. It is widespread across much of North America, Europe and Asia,^[1][2][3][4] and may be terrestrial, aquatic or epiphytic.^[4] It is characterized by simple, unbranched stems that are upright, leaning or hanging down and have 2–17 foliage leaves. Leaves are simple and may clasp the stem or be short-petiolate. The inflorescence is terminal and either a panicle or a raceme with few to many pedicelate flowers. Most species have 6 tepals and 6 stamens; a few have parts in 4s. Tepals are distinct in most species and all of similar size. Flowers are spreading, cup-shaped or bell-shaped and usually white, but lavender to red or green in some species. Fruits are rounded to lobed berries containing few to several seeds.