國花系列:LILY OF THE VALLEY(瑞典)

Lily of the valley is one of the most beautiful flowers that appear in wet forests in Europe, Asia, and North America from April till June.

Every part of the plant is poisonous because it contains about 20 poisonous glycosides such as convalatoxin, convalarin, and convalamarin, as well as saponins. They cause poisoning characterized by strong headache, nausea and vomiting, slow pulse and excessive urination. The victims are often domesticated animals because the may lily is a widely distributed cultivated plant.

May lily is 15 to 30 or 40 cm high, has two 10 cm long and 4-10 cm wide leaves and small fragrant white blossoms. It grows in places, having an altitude of up to 1400 m. The fruit is a bright-red strawberry.
Its glycosides were used in the past as a source of medical products for cardiology but they have already been replaced by more effective medicines.

Soil Type - Sandy loam to clay soils
Soil ph - neutral to slightly acidic
Water - moist to dry
Light - Full Shade to full sun
Height - 6 in.
Time of bloom - Early spring
Flower colors - White ,pink

Facts: Signifies a "return to happiness". Lily of the valley is much used in bridal arrangements for their sweet perfume. Traditionally associated with May 1st, especially in France where the "muguet" is handed out at special events.




鈴蘭

花語：純潔·幸福的到來

種類：百合科
原產地：日本、歐洲
花色：白
花期：初夏
●別名：君影草

又名「君影草」，但一般仍通稱爲「鈴蘭」。

這種有香味的小花，在法國的婚禮上常常可以看到。送這種花給新娘，是表示祝福新人「幸福的到來」。大概是因爲這種形狀像小鐘似的小花，令人聯想到換起幸福的小鈴鐺吧！另外，也因爲鈴蘭的生長地域不大，又被稱爲「山谷百合」，給人一股「純潔清新」的感覺。

傳說，在森林守護神聖雷歐納德死亡的土地上，開出了白色又具有香味的鈴蘭。鈴蘭綻放在那塊冰涼的土地上，就是聖雷歐納德的化身．．．．。

由於所有花朵都向下綻開，當切花使用時，應以細鐵絲和透明膠帶特別處理，讓花朵看起來比較明顯。



　　鈴蘭原產歐洲。我團不少地區有野生分佈，常生於陰坡林下，耐寒，喜散射光和陰涼、溼潤的環境，忌炎熱。要求排水良好的沙質壤土。

繁殖
　　常用根狀莖或幼芽分株繁殖。秋季地上部枯萎後掘起根狀莖，取莖端的幼芽分株栽植。大的幼芽分株後翌春可開花，小的需隔１年後開花。

栽培
　　栽植根莖春季萌發後，每旬追肥１次，花莖抽出後停止施肥，花凋謝後再追肥１－２次，使根莖生長充實。天旱時注意澆水。晚秋地上部枯萎後，以根莖及其林眠芽露地越冬，並覆蓋腐葉、馬糞，翌年春季發芽、開花必旺。盆栽促成栽培，將處理過的根莖，在室溫２０℃左右栽植，注意澆水，保持溼潤，培養３－４星期後開花。