Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

Muguet is lily-of-the-valley.  It may refer to either of the two types common in Quebec.  The wild lily-of-the-valley, Maianthemum Canadensis, derived from maà¯us or May and anthemon, or flower, hence: May flower.  The species name, canadense, indicates that this species was first identified in Canada.  Its leaves somewhat resemble the more familiar and fragrant variety of lily-of-the-valley, Convallaria maialis.  The flowers of each differ substantially.  In the wild variety, they are not bell shaped and do not cascade down the length of the stem like the cultivated variety, but have rather puffy white or cream coloured flowers clustered at the stem top.  Both of these are members of the Liliacae (lily) family.^[1]

In “floriography”, or the language of flowers, the lily-of-the-valley signifies the return of happiness.  Legend tells of the affection of the lily-of-the-valley for a nightingale that did not come back to the woods until the flower bloomed in May!