Lily of the valley (Suzuran) - Convallaria keiskei

Japanese: スズラン(鈴蘭) - スズラン（英語表記）Convallaria keiskei

A perennial plant of the lily family. It grows in clusters on the highlands of central Honshu and on the plains of Hokkaido. It is also known as Kimikagesou. The rhizome is long and slender, spreading horizontally underground. The leaves are usually two opposite each other, oval with pointed tips, and the base is sheath-like, embracing each other and attaching to the nodes of the rhizome. From May to July, the plant produces flower stalks about 20 cm long, shorter than the leaves, that bear small, fragrant white flowers in clusters. The flowers are broad, bell-shaped, drooping, with six shallow lobes at the end that curl back outward. In autumn, the spherical berries about 6 mm in diameter ripen red. The European-origin German lily of the valley C. majalis has the English name lily of the valley, and is cultivated in Japan for its large flowers and strong fragrance. The Japanese name comes from the flower's bell-like shape. The whole plant is boiled or made into a tincture and used as a cardiac stimulant or diuretic.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ユリ科の多年草。本州中部の高原草地や北海道の平地に群生する。キミカゲソウの別名がある。根茎は細長く地中を横にはう。葉は普通2枚相対してつき，先のとがった楕円形で基部は鞘状になり抱合って根茎の節につく。5月から7月にかけて，葉より短く長さ 20cmほどの花茎を出し芳香のある白色の小花を総状につける。花は広い鐘状で垂れ下がり，先は浅く6裂し外側へそり返る。秋，直径約 6mmの球形の液果が赤く熟する。ヨーロッパ産のドイツスズラン C. majalisは lily of the valleyの英名をもち，花が大きく芳香も強いので日本でも観賞用に栽培される。和名は花の形を鈴に見立てたもの。草全体を煎じたりチンキにして強心剤や利尿剤に用いる。

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