About Maianthemum dilatatum (Alph.Wood) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
Maianthemum dilatatum produces an erect, unbranched flower stem that occasionally reaches 40 centimeters in height, and is typically much shorter. Non-flowering shoots produce a single smooth, waxy, shiny leaf that grows up to 10 centimeters long and 5 to 8 centimeters wide; the species epithet dilatatum means 'broad', referencing this wide leaf shape. This leaf is oval with a heart-shaped base, and it is also described as green and teardrop-shaped. The plant’s inflorescence is an erect raceme that holds star-shaped white flowers, each with four tepals and four stamens. After fertilization, the plant produces a berry 6 millimeters in diameter. Immature berries are speckled red, and they turn solid red when fully ripe; each berry contains 1 to 4 seeds. This species has a number of ethnobotanical uses. Its roots and leaves were used for medicinal purposes, its berries were occasionally eaten as food, and Native Americans used it to treat wounds and eyestrain. Maianthemum dilatatum is tolerant of deep shade, drought, and extensive watering, and it is growing more popular as a shade-tolerant groundcover for gardening. Gardeners should take care when planting this species, because its creeping rhizomes allow it to quickly escape cultivation boundaries, and it may crowd out other garden plants.
