Maianthemum G.H. Weber ex F.G. Wigg.
(incl. Smilacina Desf.)
Maianthemum is, in its current circumscription, a genus with ca. 30-38 species, dispersed from North to Central America, northern Europe and from the Himalayas to eastern Asia (LaFrankie 2002, Mabberley 2008, Meng & al. 2008). Molecular data support the monophyly of Maianthemum s.l. with Maianthemum s.str. nested within Smilacina (Cubey 2005, Meng & al. 2008). Morphologically and geographically, however, both genera are well separated (Chen & al. 2000). All species of Maianthemum s.str., i.e. species with four-tepaled flowers, are very similar and closely related. They are sometimes considered mere varieties of a single species (LaFrankie 2002). A single species is native in Belgium, M. bifolium (L.) F.W. Schmidt (Lambinon & Verloove 2012). This and a few additional species are cultivated as ornamentals in Europe (Leslie 1986, Matthews 1986, Jäger & al. 2008). Two of these have been recorded as a garden escape or throw-out.
1 Tepals 6, 4-5 mm long. Flowering stem with 8-11 leaves. Leaf blade ovate-elliptic to lanceolate (at least twice as long as wide), rounded at base === Maianthemum stellatum
Tepals 4, shorter. Flowering stem with 2-3 leaves. Leaf blade broadly ovate (hardly longer than wide), deeply cordate at base === 2
2 Leaves up to 20 cm long, glabrous. Stem glabrous, up to 35 (-45) cm tall. Racemes 25-75 mm long, with up to 40 flowers === M. dilatatum
Leaves up to 8 cm long (often much less), hairy beneath (papillose to puberulent, at least on the veins). Stem usually hairy above, up to 20 cm tall. Racemes 10-40 mm long, with up to 20 flowers (native) === M. bifolium
Literature:
Chen S.C., Liang S.J., Xu J.M. & Tamura M.N. (2000) Liliaceae. In: Wu Z.Y. & Raven P.H. (eds.), Flora of China, vol. 24: 73-263. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. [available online at: http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume24/LILIACEAE.published.pdf]
Cubey J. (2005) The incorporation of Smilacina into Maianthemum. Plantsman 4(4): 216-219.
Ingram J. (1964) Notes on the cultivated Liliaceae, 3, Maianthemum. Baileya 14: 50-59.
Jäger E.J., Ebel F., Hanelt P. & Müller G. (eds.) (2008) Rothmaler Band 5. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.
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Kawano S., Ihara M. & Suzuki M. (1968b) Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae-Polygonateae [sic]). IV. Variation in gross morphology of M. kamtschaticum. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 81: 473-490.
Kawano S., Ihara M., Suzuki M. & ILtis H.H. (1967) Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae). I. Somatic chromosome number and morphology. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 80: 345-352.
Kawano S. & Iltis H.H. (1966) Cytotaxonomy of the genus Smilacina. II. Chromosome morphology and evolutionary consideration of the New World species. Cytologia 31: 12-28.
Kawano S. & Suzuki M. (1971) Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae-Polygonateae [sic]). VI. Variation in gross morphology of M. bifolium and M. canadense with special reference to their taxonomic status. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 84: 349-361.
Kawano S., Suzuki M. & Kojima S. (1971) Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae-Polygonateae [sic]). V. Variation in gross morphology, karyology and ecology of North American populations of M. dilatatum sensu lato. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 84: 299-318.
Kim S.-C. & Lee N.S. (2007) Generic delimitation and biogeography of Maianthemum and Smilacina (Ruscaceae sensu lato): preliminary results based on partial 3′ matK gene and trnK 3′ intron sequences of cpDNA. Plant Systematics and Evolution 265(1-2): 1-12. [available online at: http://plantbiology.ucr.edu/faculty/KimLee(PSE07).pdf]
LaFrankie J.V. (1984) Anatomy of stem abcission in the genus Smilacina (Liliaceae). J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 563-570.
LaFrankie J.V. (1986a) Transfer of the species of Smilacina Desf. to Maianthemum Wiggers (Liliaceae). Taxon 35: 584-589.
LaFrankie J.V. (1986b) Morphology and taxonomy of the New World species of Maianthemum (Liliaceae). J. Arnold Arbor. 67: 371-439.
LaFrankie J.V. (2002) Maianthemum. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (eds.), Flora of North America, vol. 26. Oxford University Press, New York-Oxford: 206-207. [available online at: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=119474]
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Leslie A. (1986) Maianthemum. In: Walters S.M. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 253.
Li H. (1990) Infrageneric system of the genus Maianthemum (in Chinese). Acta Bot. Yunnanica Suppl. 3: 1-12.
Mabberley D.J. (2008) Mabberley’s plant-book (3th ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: XVIII + 1021 p.
Matthews V.A. (1986) Smilacina. In: Walters S.M. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 252-253.
Meng Y., Wen J., Nie Z.L., Sun H. & Yang Y.P. (2008) Phylogeny and biogeographic diversification of Maianthemum (Ruscaceae: Polygonatae). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 49(2): 424-34.
Takahashi M. & Sohma K. (1983) Pollen morphology of the genus Smilacina (Liliaceae). Sci. Rep. Tohoku Imp. Univ., Ser. 4, Biol. 38: 191-218.
Utech F.H. & Kawano S. (1976) Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae). VIII. Floral anatomy of M. dilatatum, M. bifolium, M. canadense. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 89: 145-157.
Valentine D.H. (1976) Patterns of variation in north temperate taxa with a wide distribution. Taxon 25(2-3): 225-231.
Valentine D.H. & Hassan H.M. (1971) Cytotaxonomy of the genus Maianthemum. J. Indian Bot. Soc. 50: 437-446.