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Glite Dictionary
Convallaria majalis

Convallaria majalis

9.9
A low plant with two leaves, small sweet white bell-shaped flowers and poisonous red berries
  • noun
  • /kənˈvæl.ə.ri.ə məˈdʒeɪ.lɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Convallaria majalis
  • Convallaria majalis blooms in spring, filling the garden with a sweet fragrance.

Examples

  • The berries of Convallaria majalis are toxic if ingested, so care should be taken around children.

  • Many florists include Convallaria majalis in wedding bouquets because of its delicate, elegant appearance.

  • The garden was filled with beautiful Convallaria majalis.

  • Have you seen the Convallaria majalis blooming this spring?

  • Convallaria majalis blooms in spring, filling the garden with a sweet fragrance.

  • Many florists include Convallaria majalis in wedding bouquets because of its delicate, elegant appearance.

  • The berries of Convallaria majalis are toxic if ingested, so care should be taken around children.

Synonyms

lily of the valley
vsConvallaria majalis
2 5.3

A small garden plant with broad leaves and white bell-shaped flowers that smell sweet

is the formal scientific name for the same garden species
May lily
vsConvallaria majalis
  • UK
9.9

A low plant with two long leaves, small sweet-smelling bell flowers and red berries

is the formal scientific name referring to that same wild species

Surface Forms

Convallaria majalis singular
Convallaria majalis plural

Morphology

Convallaria + majalis

This is a Latin botanical binomial rather than a compositional English phrase; its meaning (the species lily of the valley) depends on taxonomic knowledge, not ordinary word combination. One constituent is not a common English word ('majalis' unknown) and even knowing 'Convallaria' as a genus does not make the species sense transparently derivable for a B1 learner without exposure to scientific naming conventions.

Etymology

Convallaria majalis is the Latin name for the small white bell flowers called 'lily of the valley'; the two parts mean a plant of the 'valley' and of 'May'. The picture of tiny white bells growing low in a valley in spring helps you remember this name for the fragrant, delicate flower.