(Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum)
Conservation • Wetland • Description • Habitat • Biology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
Description |
||
Common false Solomon’s seal is a 16″ to 32″ tall, erect, perennial forb that rises on a single stem, sometimes multiple stems, from a slender, cylindrical, rhizome. The rhizome is 12″ to 16″ long and 5 ⁄16″ to 9 ⁄16″ wide. It does not have the seal-like pattern seen on true Solomon’s seals, but it does have circular stem scars. It sometimes forms loose colonies. The stems are erect and arching, unbranched, and finely hairy, zigzagging slightly, with 7 to 12 leaves. The leaves are alternate, parallel to the ground, and on short leaf stalks, not clasping. They are elliptic to egg-shaped, 3½″ to 6¾″ long, and 2″ to 3″ wide. The leaf blade tapers at the base to the stalk and abruptly tapers to a long, tail-like appendage at the tip. The tail-like tip of the third leaf below the inflorescence is ½″ to 1″ long. There are usually 3 or sometimes 5 conspicuous, parallel veins. The upper surface is green and hairless with recessed veins. The lower surface is green with prominent (raised) veins and short hairs on the veins. The margins are untoothed. The inflorescence is a plume-like cluster of 20 to 80 tiny flowers at the end of the stem. It is 1″ to 4″ long and pryamid-shaped with well-developed branches. The flowers are star-shaped and 1 ⁄10″ to ⅛″ wide and long. There are 3 white, thin, inconspicuous petals, 3 similar sepals (6 tepals), and 6 spreading stamens. The fruit is a globular berry, ⅛″ to ¼″ wide, with 1 to 4 seeds. It is initially green with copper spots, becoming deep translucent red when it ripens. |
||
Height |
||
16″ to 32″ |
||
Flower Color |
||
White |
||
Similar Species |
||
Smooth Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum) is a taller plant, reaching up to 48″ at maturity. The leaves are often clasping and have 7 to 19 parallel veins. The inflorescence is small clusters of cylinder-shaped flowers hanging downward from most leaf axils. The fruits are green when young and dark blue-violet when mature. Starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum) stems are more erect. The leaves are narrower, lance-shaped, stiff, folded, and somewhat clasping. The inflorescence is an unbranched cluster of 6 to 15 flowers. The flowers are about ⅓″ wide. The fruits are larger and are yellowish-green when young with 3 to 6 red to purple stripes. |
||
Habitat |
||
Dry to moderate moisture. Woods, forests. Full to partial sun. |
||
Biology |
||
Flowering |
||
May to June |
||
Pests and Diseases |
||
|
||
Use |
||
|
||
Distribution |
||||
Sources |
||||
3/16/2023 | ||||
Nativity |
||||
Native |
||||
Occurrence |
||||
Common |
||||
Taxonomy |
|||
Kingdom | Plantae (green algae and land plants) | ||
Subkingdom | Viridiplantae (green plants) | ||
Infrakingdom | Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) | ||
Superdivision | Embryophyta (land plants) | ||
Division | Tracheophyta (vascular plants) | ||
Subdivision | Spermatophytina (seed plants) | ||
Class | Liliopsida (monocots) | ||
Order |
Asparagales (agaves, orchids, irises, and allies) | ||
Family |
Asparagaceae (agave and allies) | ||
Subfamily | Nolinoideae (dragon tree) | ||
Tribe | Polygonateae (true and false Solomon‘s seals) | ||
Genus |
Maianthemum (mayflowers and false Solomon‘s seals) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
|||
|
|||
Synonyms |
|||
Convallaria racemosa Smilacina ciliata Smilacina flexicaulis Smilacina racemosa Smilacina racemosa var. cylindrata Smilacina racemosa var. lanceolata Smilacina racemosa var. typica Vagnera australis Vagnera racemosa Vagnera retusa |
|||
Common Names |
|||
common false Solomon’s seal eastern Solomon’s plume false Solomon’s-seal false spikenard feather Solomons seal feathery false lily of the valley feathery false Solomon’s-seal large false Solomon’s-seal Solomon’s plume |
|||
Glossary
Axil
The upper angle where the leaf stalk meets the stem.
Clasping
Describing a leaf that wholly or partly surrounds the stem but does not fuse at the base.
Rhizome
A horizontal, usually underground stem. It serves as a reproductive structure, producing roots below and shoots above at the nodes.
Sepal
An outer floral leaf, usually green but sometimes colored, at the base of a flower.
Tepal
Refers to both the petals and the sepals of a flower when they are similar in appearance and difficult to tell apart. Tepals are common in lilies and tulips.
Visitor Photos |
|||||
Share your photo of this plant. |
|||||
This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
|||||
Luciearl |
|||||
![]() |
|||||
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
|||||
Plant |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
Inflorescence |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
![]() |
|||||
Infructescence |
|||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||
Slideshows |
||
False Solomon's Seal Andree Reno Sanborn |
||
![]() |
||
About
Nearly exactly like Solomon's Seal, except the leaves are opposite. But I personally think the best indicator is where the berries are: False has berries at the end of the stalk (where the flowers are) and true has berries along the length of the stalk. Smilacina racemosa |
||
Maianthemum racemosum (False Spikenard) Allen Chartier |
||
![]() |
||
Visitor Videos |
|||
Share your video of this plant. |
|||
This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
|||
Other Videos |
|||
False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum), Fall Creek, Willamette National Forest, Oregon Rob Mutch |
|||
About
Uploaded on May 30, 2011 Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_Solomon%27s_Seal --- |
|||
Plant Comparison: True And False Solomon's Seal MiWilderness |
|||
About
Published on May 10, 2012 More Solomon's Seal showing flowers: http://youtu.be/yF2t2YUWIgw Polyonatum biflorum. Music: http://incompetech.com/ These two plants are entirely unrelated belonging to completely different genera. But, they look quite similar until close inspection reveals the vast differences. Both true and False Solomon's Seal are reported to have medicinal and edible qualities. Solomon's Seal is quite rare locally, but False Solomon's Seal is fairly abundant. Native Americans reportedly used these two plants for both food and medicine. Modern herbalists still recommend Solomon's Seal, properly prepared, as an excellent relief for pain associated with joint, tendon, cartilage and back injuries. Tags: Plant comparison Solomon's seal false solomon's seal identification "edible and medicinal plants" eastern woodlands michigan polygonatum biflorum smilax ethical harvest protected species pickers flowers "edible roots" rhizome berry midwest "primitive skills and technology" survival bushcraft prepping morel ash woodsman forager neolithic native american ethnobotany herbal remedy medicine history health joint pain lubricating strains sprains tendonitis wrist elbow knee "natural back pain relief" |
|||
Wild Edibles: False Solomon's Seal JoeandZachSurvival |
|||
About
Uploaded on Jun 6, 2011 This video is giving a positive id on the plant False Solomon's Seal, it very closely resembles Solomon's Seal, but they are different, False Solomon;s Seal has a poisonous root and the berries while edible, if eaten in quantity will upset the stomach. The part you want to eat is the young spring shoots but because the shoots so closely resemble other poisonous plants such as jack in the pulpit, you need to go out now, id the plant and then next year go and pick the shoot, its not worth screwing it up. Since the videos say " if you dont know the plant then dont eat it " this will help us all to know the plant. Thank You. |
|||
false solomons seal (SMILACINA RACEMOSA) wvoutdoorman |
|||
About
Published on May 13, 2012 false solomons seal (SMILACINA RACEMOSA) |
|||
False Solomon s Seal Craig D. |
|||
About
Uploaded on Feb 10, 2010 No description available. |
|||
Visitor Sightings |
|||||
Report a sighting of this plant. |
|||||
This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
|||||
Luciearl 6/10/2019 |
Location: Cass County |
![]() |
|||
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
|||||
Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Clifton E. French Regional Park Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park Lake Alexander Woods SNA, South Unit Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA Minnesota Valley NWR, Louisville Swamp Unit Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve Spring Beauty Northern Hardwoods SNA Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserve |
|||||
Last Updated: