Click to see Prosartes and Streptopus.

Maianthemum amplexicaule

Maianthemum stellatum

Asparagaceae. Synonyms: Liliaceae, Ruscaceae. (Asparagus Family)

Lower Calico Trail, June 11, 2011 and
Navajo Lake Trail, September 24, 2012.

Both Maianthemum racemosum and Maianthemum stellatum are rhizomatous, i.e., they have lateral underground roots from which they sprout new plants.   They thus form colonies of plants.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
Lower Stoner Mesa Trail, May 26, 2004.

Maianthemum amplexicaule, easily confused with Maianthemum stellatum (see below) and Streptopus fassettii, can be distinguished by its broader leaves and tassel-like flower cluster.  Although it is rhizomatous, sprouting new plants from lateral underground roots, it tends to grow in fewer numbers than M. stellatum.  Maianthemum amplexicaule is a common plant in mid-elevation woods, thriving in moist locations where it often grows quite robust and several feet tall.

Linnaeus named a species Convallaria racemosa in 1753 from collections sent to him from Virginia; Desfontaines renamed that species Smilacina racemosa in 1807; Link named it Maianthemum racemosum in 1821; Nuttall named the western U.S. species Smilacina amplexifolius in 1834; as of 2023 the Flora of North America accepts the name Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule for the western U.S. species (using Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum for the eastern species); and Kartesz calls the western U.S. species Maianthemum amplexicaule, reserving the specific epithet "racemosum" for the eastern U.S. species of this genus. 

"Maianthemum" means "May Flower", "racemosum" describes the inflorescence arrangement, and "amplexicaule" describes the "clasping" of the stem by the leaves.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
Lower Calico National Recreation Trail, June 17, 2014.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
Lizard Head Trail, June 9, 2006.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
Vallecito Creek Trail, September 13, 2010.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
West Mancos Trail, June 17, 2010.

Star Lily is common in the rich moist soils of Aspen woods where it commonly grows in large patches of dozens of plants.  It is especially noticeable on the uphill side of trails arching its tiny star-like flowers downhill toward hikers.

Linnaeus named this species Convallaria stellata in 1753 from collections made in Canada; Desfontaines renamed it Smilacina stellata in 1807; and Link named it Maianthemum stellatum in 1821.

"Stellatum" is Latin for "star".

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
Narraguinnep Natural Area, May 28, 2004.

In dark woods, plants can be few and scattered.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
East Fork of the Dolores Trail, June 30, 2006.
North of Durango, May 29, 2007.

In more open woods, plants abound.  Flowers are tiny and hard to see unless you are on your hands and knees, but the dozens of arching plants with pointed leaves are easily noticed -- and quite common.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
Narraguinnep Natural Area, May 28, 2004.

Fresh flowers grow at the tip and ripening fruit (now yellow, but soon to be red), grows in the fading petals at the base of the inflorescence.

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands. Spring.
Prater Ridge Trail, June 17, 2006.

Ripening seed capsules.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color KeySpecies present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Maianthemum, showing Maianthemum amplexicaule in the western U.S. and M. racemosa in the eastern U.S.

Range map for Maianthemum stellatum