Why are Lily of the Valley called King's Shadow Grass
This article provides a core guide: Discover why Lily of the Valley is called King's Shadow Grass and the elegant names ancient people gave to this green plant, let's learn about it together.
Lily of the Valley (Scientific name: Convallaria majalis Linn.) is also known as King's Shadow Grass, Valley Lily, and Bellflower. It has a sweet scent and is poisonous throughout. Lily of the Valley is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and it is found in the wild at altitudes of 850 to 2500 meters in Europe, Asia, North America, and the Northeast and North China regions of China.
The Lily of the Valley plant is small, graceful and elegant, with a pleasant aroma, making it an excellent ground cover and potted plant. Lily of the Valley has only 2 leaves in its lifetime, although there are occasionally 3. The leaves are relatively large, elliptical in shape, up to 15 cm long and 7.5 cm wide, with arched veins, and there are several鞘状膜质的鳞片 (sheath-like membranous scales) at the base of the plant.
Aesthetic Value
In May, a spike of inflorescence can emerge from the axil of the scales, with a few delicate white flowers on the upper part, which are slightly fragrant, and come in white, pink, and variegated leaf varieties. In autumn, the red fruits are attractive and inviting. Each small flower resembles a hanging bell, rich in aesthetic value, and has become the national flower of Finland.
Medicinal Value
The whole plant of Lily of the Valley can be used as medicine. After the fruits mature in summer, the whole plant is harvested, the soil is removed, and it is dried in the sun. It has the effects of strengthening the heart and diuresis. It is used for congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and left heart failure caused by hypertension and nephritis. However, due to the strong toxicity of all parts of the Lily of the Valley plant, it should not be taken without professional medical guidance. Adverse reactions to poisoning often include abdominal pain, vomiting, decreased heart rate, blurred vision, dizziness, and skin rashes.
Lily of the Valley Festival
The beauty of Lily of the Valley is loved by the romantic French. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the popular Lily of the Valley has had its own festival, with May 1st being the "Lily of the Valley Festival" in France. In France, Lily of the Valley is seen as a symbol of happiness and hope. On the day of the Lily of the Valley Festival, the French exchange Lily of the Valley, believing that it will bring the favor of the god of love and good luck!
The British are also huge fans of Lily of the Valley, with "Lily of the Valley" being the common name for it in the UK, and it is also known as "Lady's Tears" and other elegant names.
In China, "Lily of the Valley" is called "King's Shadow Grass," which brings to mind Confucius' praise for the noble character: " Orchids grow in deep valleys and do not lose their fragrance because no one is around; gentlemen cultivate virtue and do not change their integrity because of poverty."
Meaning of Lily of the Valley
Purity, the arrival of happiness. Lily of the Valley is often seen at weddings in France, with this flower given to the bride as a祝福 (blessing) for the arrival of happiness, perhaps because the flower is reminiscent of a bell that brings happiness.
The aforementioned introduction to why Lily of the Valley is called King's Shadow Grass and the methods of ancient people's elegant names for it can serve as a reference suggestion for everyone.