Nomenclatural and Taxonomic Analysis of Convallaria majalis, C. majuscula, and C. montana (Ruscaceae/Liliaceae)

Aug 20, 2026

Convallaria montana is shown to be a superfluous name for C. pseudomajalis, likely based on a Polygonatum specimen, making the earliest available name for the American lily-of-the-valley C. majuscula. The study proposes two new combinations: C. majalis L. subsp. majuscula and C. majalis var. majuscula. A neotype is selected for Convallaria majuscula Greene, resolving nomenclatural and typification issues.

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Abstract

Nomenclatural problem and taxonomic conclusions

Gandhi, K.N., J.L. Reveal, and J.L. Zarucchi. 2012. Nomenclatural and taxonomic analysis of Convallaria majalis, C. majuscula, and C. montana (Ruscaceae/Liliaceae) . Phytoneuron 2012-17: 1–4. Published 17 February 2012. ISSN 2153 733X NOMENCLATURAL AND TAXONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CONVALLARIA MAJALIS, C. MAJUSCULA, AND C. MONTANA (RUSCACEAE/LILIACEAE) KANCHI N. GANDHI Harvard University Herbaria 22 Divinity Avenue Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-2094 Correspondence: [gandhi@oeb.harvard.edu](gandhi@oeb.harvard.edu) JAMES L. REVEAL L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Dept. of Plant Biology 412 Mann Library Building Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853-4301 JAMES L. ZARUCCHI Missouri Botanical Garden P.O. Box 299 St. Louis, Missouri 63166-0299 ABSTRACT [Convallaria montana](Convallaria montana Raf. is)[ Raf. is](Convallaria montana Raf. is) shown to be a superfluous name for C. pseudomajalis Bartr., which was likely based on a specimen of Polygonatum, so that the earliest available name for the American lily-of-the-valley is C. majuscula Greene. Two new combinations proposed: C. majalis L. subsp. majuscula (Greene) Gandhi, Reveal, and Zarucchi and C. majalis var. majuscula (Greene) Gandhi, Reveal, and Zarucchi. A neotype is chosen for Convallaria majuscula Greene. KEY WORDS: Nomenclature, eastern North America, Convallaria majalis subsp. majuscula, Convallaria pseudomajalis, lily-of-the-valley The American lily-of-the-valley has been known under the following names: Convallaria majalis L. (Michaux 1803: 201; Pursh 1813: 232; Nuttall 1818: 224; Elliott 1817: 396; Britton & Brown 1896: 434; Small 1933: 301; Gleason & Cronquist 1991: 839), C. montana Raf. (Fernald 1944: 14), C. majuscula Greene (USDA, NRCS 2012),“C. majalis var. montana (Raf.) H.E. Ahles”(Utech 2002: 206), and C. majalis var. montana H.E. Ahles (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, 2012) . The known range of this taxon is confined mainly to the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States in northern Georgia, southeastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, western Virginia, and West Virginia. Typical Convallaria majalis is a native of Europe. Among those who applied this name to the American plants, it was Small (1933) who distinguished the American plants from their European counterparts as follows: "The native American plant usually has a shorter inflorescence, and has larger bracts and an oblate seed. " In contrast, Gleason and Cronquist (1991) were of the opinion that the “seemingly native” plants are “casually escaped plants” and “may reflect an early escape of a different phase of sp. [C. majalis] in cult[ivation] .” Others, such as Michaux (1803) and Pursh (1813), did not comment on the nativity of the American plants. During a comparative study of the specimens of Convallaria majalis and C. majuscula, we discovered a nomenclatural problem that was previously overlooked. Gandhi, Reveal, and Zarucchi: Nomenclatural and taxonomic analysis of Convallaria 2 William Bartram (1810), who was the first to distinguish the American native taxon from the European taxon, assigned to it the name Convallaria pseudomajalis and remarked: “It differs but little from C. majalis of Europe, only is larger every way, and the fruit blue more oblong to ovate.”Although Rafinesque (1840: 66) was aware of Bartram’s name, he proposed the name Convallaria montana for the American plants and at the same time cited C. pseudomajalis as a synonym. Thus, C. montana was superfluous and illegitimate when published, and it is automatically typified on the type of C. pseudomajalis. Within his treatment, Rafinesque mentioned that according to Bartram,“the berries are blue and ovate.” Rafinesque characterized his C. montana, after a Latin description, where he mentioned “fol. binis sessilib. ovatobl. acum.” and “racemo 10-12floris, bract. lanc. ad ped. eq. fl. secundis” as a “large p

FAQs

Why is Convallaria montana considered superfluous in this analysis?

The study argues that C. montana is superfluous because it was based on a specimen associated with C. pseudomajalis, making C. montana an illegitimate later name.

What new taxonomic combinations are proposed?

Two new combinations are proposed: C. majalis L. subsp. majuscula and C. majalis var. majuscula, both credited to Gandhi, Reveal, and Zarucchi.

What typification change is made for Convallaria majuscula?

A neotype is chosen for Convallaria majuscula Greene to stabilize its application under the revised nomenclature.

Aug 20, 2026

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