Buzz
We don’t want to give away any spoilers for those who haven’t caught up with this season of Breaking Bad yet. However, for the floss readers who are intrigued by lily of the valley—a plant featured in the latest season finale—we’re excited to discuss a bit of botany. Continue at your own discretion.
What exactly is lily of the valley?
Lily of the valley, with the scientific name Convallaria majalis, is an herbaceous perennial (meaning its leaves and stems die off at the end of the growing season, and there’s no persistent woody stem) native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This plant spreads through underground stems, forming large colonies, and appears above the soil with upright stems called pips. It blooms in late spring, showcasing fragrant white, bell-shaped flowers and small orange-red berries.
Lily of the valley features prominently in Christian legends. One story suggests that the plant sprouted from Mary’s tears as she mourned Jesus’ crucifixion, while another legend claims it emerged from the blood of Saint Leonard of Noblac, spilled during his battle with a dragon. Additionally, lily of the valley was used as the floral emblem of Yugoslavia and is currently the national flower of Finland.
Is it truly toxic?
Absolutely.
Toxicity serves as the plant's defense mechanism, protecting its seeds from being eaten by animals. Every part of the plant—the stems, leaves, flowers, and berries—contains potent toxins, with nearly 40 different cardiac glycosides identified within it so far.
Glycosides are chemical compounds where a sugar is attached to a non-carbohydrate molecule. By increasing calcium levels in and around cells, cardiac glycosides enhance the force of heart contractions and the amount of blood it pumps. This isn’t necessarily harmful, and these compounds have been used in medicine since the ancient Roman Empire to treat arrhythmias and heart failure (today, drugs like Lanoxin, Digitek, and Lanoxicaps are derived from a purified cardiac glycoside extracted from the foxglove plant). However, when consumed in excess, cardiac glycosides can cause severe damage to your digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems (we'll get into that later).
That doesn't sound great. Could it be growing in my garden?
It's possible. The plant is common in the wild across Asia, continental Europe, England, and the Appalachian region in the eastern United States. It's also a favored garden plant because of its fragrant flowers and its ability to spread as ground cover, so it wouldn’t be surprising to find it growing outside its native area. Like, for example, Albuquerque.
So, I should definitely avoid eating it, right?
Unless blurry vision, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, disorientation, drowsiness, headaches, red skin rashes, excessive salivation, sudden heart rhythm changes, and potential death sound like an enjoyable experience to you, then yes, avoid it.
Okay. Let’s say, uh, a friend of a friend ate some. What happens now?
Head straight to the hospital. Treatment will likely involve activated charcoal, breathing assistance, IV fluids, an electrocardiogram, and possibly a temporary pacemaker, depending on the symptoms' severity. They might also suggest staying away from individuals involved in meth production and distribution.
