Maianthemum canadense

Desf.

Wild Lily-of-the-Valley

G5Secure Found in 114 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146323
Element CodePMLIL1D010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderAsparagales
FamilyAsparagaceae
GenusMaianthemum
Other Common Names
Canada Mayflower (EN) Canada mayflower (EN) Maïanthème de l'intérieur (FR) Two-leaved Solomon's-seal (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-14
Change Date1984-06-07
Edition Date2024-08-14
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Maianthemum canadense is a wide-ranging perennial herb in forests occurring in northern North America from across Canada and the United States south to Georgia, Tennessee, and Iowa west to Wyoming. Threats include development, logging, recreational activities, invasive species, and deer browsing. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Maianthemum canadense occurs in northern North America from across Canada (except for Nunavut) and the United States south to Georgia, Tennessee, and Iowa west to Wyoming (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated to be over 8 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are thousands of occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by recreational activities, invasive species, development, logging, invasive species, deer browsing, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Maianthemum canadense grows in "deciduous and coniferous forests, persisting in forest remnants and parks" (FNA 2002).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - Mixed
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
LabradorS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
QuebecSNRYes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
Prince Edward IslandS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS3Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
SaskatchewanS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New JerseySNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
IndianaSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
IowaS3Yes
MaineSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
KentuckyS2Yes
South CarolinaSNRYes
South DakotaSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
MontanaSHYes
West VirginiaS4Yes
District of ColumbiaS2Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
DelawareS4Yes
WyomingS2Yes
MarylandSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
VermontS5Yes
TennesseeSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
OhioS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
IllinoisS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (114)
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Michigan (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bear SwampHuron-Manistee National Forest3,915
Norwich Plains Revised Roadless AreaOttawa National Forest4,360
Round IslandHiawatha National Forest2
Minnesota (8)
AreaForestAcres
Baker - Homer - Brule LakesSuperior National Forest6,712
Brule Lake - Eagle MountainSuperior National Forest12,380
Hegman LakesSuperior National Forest675
Kawishiwi Lake To SawbillSuperior National Forest15,305
Little Indian SiouxSuperior National Forest996
Phantom LakeSuperior National Forest6,521
Tait LakeSuperior National Forest6,327
Wood LakeSuperior National Forest596
New Hampshire (14)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Cherry MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,766
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
JobildunkWhite Mountain National Forest3,660
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Pemigewasset ExtWhite Mountain National Forest15,840
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest4,312
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
North Carolina (19)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Boteler PeakNantahala National Forest4,205
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Mackey MountainPisgah National Forest5,934
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
Slide HollowPisgah National Forest193
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Pennsylvania (5)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
CornplanterAllegheny National Forest2,929
Hearts ContentAllegheny National Forest221
Minister ValleyAllegheny National Forest1,417
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
Tennessee (7)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
London Bridge BranchCherokee National Forest3,387
Rogers RidgeCherokee National Forest4,738
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Vermont (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Devil's Den 09083Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests9,169
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Wilder Mountain 09082Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests8,759
Woodford 09086Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests2,456
Virginia (28)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beartown Addition BJefferson National Forest2,985
Elliott KnobGeorge Washington National Forest9,380
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Hunting Camp Little Wolf CreekJefferson National Forest8,953
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Laurel ForkGeorge Washington National Forest9,967
Lewis Fork AdditionJefferson National Forest749
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Little Wilson Creek Addition BJefferson National Forest1,725
Long SpurJefferson National Forest6,417
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Peters Mountain Addition A (VA)Jefferson National Forest1,268
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (18)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry ForkMonongahela National Forest657
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Gauley MountainMonongahela National Forest13,285
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Laurel ForkMonongahela National Forest1,172
Marlin MountainMonongahela National Forest9,344
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
Peters Mountain Addition A (WV)Jefferson National Forest343
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Tea Creek MountainMonongahela National Forest8,295
Turkey MountainMonongahela National Forest6,421
Wisconsin (5)
AreaForestAcres
09011 - Flynn Lake Study AreaChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest5,951
09012 - Round Lake Study AreaChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest3,707
09154 - St. Peters DomeChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest4,002
09159 - ThornappleChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest9,744
09180 - Perch LakeChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest2,390
References (6)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  6. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.