Maianthemum paniculatum is a perennial flowering plant; a species of monocot found from Mexico to Panama. It is often associated with montane environments and is found primarily in forest openings and along roadsides.
This is a variable species with numerous synonyms. Smaller plants from Chiapas, Mexico, with narrow rhizomes and 10 or fewer stem leaves have been treated as Maianthemum septifolium. Current treatments however includes these in M. paniculatum.
The species typically grows tall off a base of forked rhizomes. Roots are spread evenly along the rhizome. Stems are hairless, upright, leaning or arching and leafy; usually with 10-15 leaves set apart, although some plants are smaller, with 6-10 leaves (previously treated as a separate species).
Leaves have a 4âÂÂ9 mm long petiole. Leaf blades are egg- shaped to elliptical with pointed tips and tapered bases. They are long by wide with undulating edges. Veins are prominent and the leaf surface is hairless.
70 to 200 flowers are set on a pyramid-shaped, branched flowering stalk (panicle). The main axis of the panicle is about 15 cm long and arches upward. Smaller plants have 25-60 flowers in a cylindrical panicle with a 6âÂÂ8 cm long central axis. The axis is weakly ribbed and green or maroon. About 8 to 15 spreading to ascending side branches are set at 4âÂÂ20 mm intervals along the main axis of the panicle. The side branches are 5âÂÂ25 cm long with 1 or 2 flowers at the base and others set at intervals of 1âÂÂ20 mm along the branch. Flowers are set on stalks (pedicels) that are 1âÂÂ4 mm long and weakly ribbed.
The flowers are made up of white, spreading tepals 2âÂÂ42 mm long that are roughly equal in size. Stamens are inserted at the tepal base. Fruits are rounded to weakly 3-lobed, 8âÂÂ12 mm across, green mottled with red when immature, ripening to red. Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year, with fruits and flowers sometimes found on the same plant.
Maianthemum paniculatum has been found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panamá as well as the Mexican states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz.
This species is often found along roadsides and in forest openings, although it sometimes persists in shade. It may be found growing in dense clusters.