Maianthemum sp.
False lily-of-the-valley, false solomon's seal, False Solomon'S Seal
(c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ruscaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Maianthemum sp. (False lily-of-the-valley) is a native California perennial in the Ruscaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Prosartes: Maianthemum has terminal flower clusters; Prosartes has flowers dangling from leaf axils beneath foliage.; vs Polygonatum: Maianthemum flowers in upright terminal clusters; Polygonatum flowers dangle below arching stems from leaf axils.; vs Epipactis: Maianthemum has simple star-shaped flowers; Epipactis has distinctive orchid flowers with lip and hood.; vs Veratrum: Maianthemum stays knee-high with tiny flowers; Veratrum towers overhead with large pleated leaves.; vs Streptopus: Maianthemum flowers in terminal clusters; Streptopus flowers hang singly from bent stalks beneath leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maianthemum sp. native to California?
Yes. Maianthemum sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Maianthemum sp. belong to?
Maianthemum sp. is in the Ruscaceae family, genus Maianthemum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.