This is a family of woodland perennials from around most of the northern hemisphere, which includes some small plants as well as larger ones formerly called Smilacina (technically distinguished by having six tepals instead of four). They have loose sprays of many small white flowers, in many cases followed by red berries.

Maianthemum canadense is known as Canadian May-lily or wild lily-of-the-valley in its native habitats in Canada, the northern United States and in the Appalachian Mountains. There it grows in forests of both conifers and deciduous trees, and in the garden it can give useful ground cover in such situations. It has up to three leaves, with clusters of about 20 starry, white flowers, sometimes followed by translucent red berries.