Convallaria

/ˌkɒnvəˈleɪriə/ noun

Definition

The botanical genus name for lily of the valley, a small herbaceous plant with white bell-shaped flowers and red berries.

Etymology

From Latin, possibly derived from 'convallis' meaning 'valley,' referring to the plant's natural habitat in shaded valleys, or perhaps from 'convallaria' as a medieval Latin name whose origin is uncertain.

Kelly Says

Lily of the valley has been cultivated for thousands of years and appears in Persian poetry, yet scientists only formally classified it as genus Convallaria in the 18th century—showing how old plants sometimes got scientific names very late.

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