Calflora Taxon Report
Maianthemum stellatum  (L.) Link
Starry false lily of the valley
photo on Calflora
2003 Steve Matson
photo on Calflora
2003 Steve Matson
photo on Calflora
2003 Steve Matson
photo on Calflora
2023 Dianne Lake
photo on Calflora
2020 R.A. Chasey
photo on Calflora
2019 Julie A. Kierstead
photo on Calflora
2019 Adam Chasey
photo on Calflora
2023 Mike Russler
photo on Calflora
2025 Alison Gardner
photo on Calflora
2019 Cara Wilcox
photo on Calflora
2023 Mike Russler
photo on Calflora
2020 Mary Conway
photo on Calflora
2022 Steven Mills Glascock
photo on Calflora
2022 Julian Geoghegan
photo on Calflora
2020 Mary Conway
photo on Calflora
2019 Diane Etchison
photo on Calflora
2023 Melissa Harbert
photo on Calflora
2019 Diane Etchison
photo on Calflora
2020 Susan McDougall
photo on Calflora
2020 Ken Lunders
photo on Calflora
2020 Bob Sweatt
photo on Calflora
2020 Bob Sweatt
photo on Calflora
2021 Cyril Guyot
photo on Calflora
2021 Dillon Doss
photo on Calflora
2021 Cyril Guyot
photo on Calflora
2022 Christine Kelly
photo on Calflora
2023 Melissa Harbert
photo on Calflora
2022 R.A. Chasey
Maianthemum stellatum is a perennial herb that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.
also called Smilacina stellata
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
DJJJASONAFMM

Bloom Period
Genus: Maianthemum
Family: Ruscaceae  
(Liliaceae)
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Monocot
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Wetlands:
Arid West: Occurs usually in non wetlands, occasionally in wetlands
Mountains, Valleys and Coast: Equally likely to occur in wetlands and non wetlands

Communities: Redwood Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS + POWO
Alternate Names:
PLANTSConvallaria stellata
PLANTSSmilacina liliacea
PLANTSSmilacina sessilifolia
PLANTSSmilacina stellata var. crassa
PLANTSSmilacina stellata var. mollis
More …
External links:

Introduction to Starry False Lily of the Valley: I always feel lucky when I spot this relative of the east coast Solomon Seal ... A photo essay from PlantID.net. (link added by Bruce Homer-Smith)

[Wikipedia] Similar Species: Maianthemum stellatum is smaller than its close relative M. racemosum. For comparison, M. stellatum has smaller, more open inflorescences that are un-branched and have fewer flowers, flowers with stamens shorter rather than longer than the tepals, and usually somewhat narrower and more curved leaves. Both species show the characteristic zigzag of the stem between the alternate leaves.[10][11] True Solomon's seal (Polygonatum multiflorum and related species) have a similar overall appearance,[12] but the flowers hang from the stem underneath the leaves, rather than forming a terminal cluster. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)

Suggested Citation
“Calflora - Taxon Report.” The Calflora Database, a non-profit organization. .

Accessed: