Polygonatum biflorum (smooth Solomon's-seal, great Solomon's-seal, Solomon's seal) is an herbaceousflowering plant native to eastern and central North America.[2] The plant is said to possess scars on the rhizome that resemble the ancient Hebrew seal of King Solomon.[3] It is often confused with Solomon's plume, which has upright flowers.
Solomon's seal has arching, unbranched leaf stalks that are usually 90 centimetres (3.0 ft) long, but can reach up to 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) long.[4] Leaves are simple and alternate with prominent, parallel veins. Between March and June, clusters of small white-green flowers droop from the stalks and later produce small blue berries. If dug up, the scars resembling Solomon's Seal may be visible on the nodes between sections of rhizomes. It is found in rich or rocky woods and along streambanks. It prefers shade to partial shade and medium to wet soil with high humus content, but can do well in a variety of conditions.[5]
Taxonomyedit
The species name biflorum is the neuter form of Latinbiflorus, meaning "having two flowers". Despite the name, the flower clusters often have more than two flowers.[2]
P. biflorum is now regarded as including a number of other species and varieties, e.g. P. biflorum var. commutatum or P. commutatum.
Usesedit
Historically, the Native Americans consumed the starch-rich rhizomes of smooth Solomon's-seal as a "potato-like food" used to make breads and soups. The young shoots are also edible, raw or boiled for an asparagus-like food.[5] Smooth Solomon's-seal was also used in herbal medicine. For example, the rhizome was used in making a tonic for gout and rheumatism.[6] Smooth Solomon's-seal has had nearly a dozen uses in herbal medicine including as an anti-inflammatory, sedative, and tonic.[7] Smooth Solomon's-seal is not used in large-scale agriculture.
Referencesedit
^"The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 17 May 2015.
^ abUtech, Frederick H. (2002). "Polygonatum biflorum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 26. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
^Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 605. ISBN0-394-50432-1.
^Denison, Edgar (2017). Missouri Wildflowers (Sixth ed.). Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. p. 26. ISBN978-1-887247-59-7.
^ ab"Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org.
^Bausor, S. C. (1937). "Medicinal Plants of Our Local Flora". Torreya. 373 (3): 45. JSTOR 40597114.
^Duke, J. A. (2002). Handbook of medicinal herbs (2nd ed., pp. 25-26). Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Blanchan, Neltje (2002) [1900]. Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
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January 01, 1970
polygonatum, biflorum, smooth, solomon, seal, great, solomon, seal, solomon, seal, herbaceous, flowering, plant, native, eastern, central, north, america, plant, said, possess, scars, rhizome, that, resemble, ancient, hebrew, seal, king, solomon, often, confus. Polygonatum biflorum smooth Solomon s seal great Solomon s seal Solomon s seal is an herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern and central North America 2 The plant is said to possess scars on the rhizome that resemble the ancient Hebrew seal of King Solomon 3 It is often confused with Solomon s plume which has upright flowers Smooth Solomon s seal Conservation status Secure NatureServe Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Monocots Order Asparagales Family Asparagaceae Subfamily Nolinoideae Genus Polygonatum Species P biflorum Binomial name Polygonatum biflorum Walt Ell Synonyms 1 Convallaria angustifolia Pursh Poir Convallaria biflora Walter Convallaria canaliculata Willd Convallaria commutata Schult amp Schult f Polygonatum angustifolium Pursh Polygonatum canaliculatum Willd Pursh Polygonatum cobrense Wooton amp Standl R R Gates Polygonatum commutatum Schult amp Schult f A Dietr Polygonatum ellipticum Farw Polygonatum giganteum A Dietr Polygonatum hebetifolium R R Gates Bush Polygonatum latifolium Pursh nom illeg Polygonatum melleum Farw Polygonatum ovatum Farw Bush Polygonatum parviflorum A Dietr Polygonatum virginicum Greene Salomonia biflora Walter Britton Salomonia cobrensis Wooton amp Standl Salomonia commutata Schult amp Schult f Britton Salomonia commutatum Schult f Farw Sigillaria angustifolia Pursh Raf Sigillaria biflora Walter Raf Sigillaria canaliculata Willd Raf Sigillaria elliptica Raf Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Uses 4 References 5 External linksDescription editSolomon s seal has arching unbranched leaf stalks that are usually 90 centimetres 3 0 ft long but can reach up to 1 8 metres 5 9 ft long 4 Leaves are simple and alternate with prominent parallel veins Between March and June clusters of small white green flowers droop from the stalks and later produce small blue berries If dug up the scars resembling Solomon s Seal may be visible on the nodes between sections of rhizomes It is found in rich or rocky woods and along streambanks It prefers shade to partial shade and medium to wet soil with high humus content but can do well in a variety of conditions 5 Taxonomy editThe species name biflorum is the neuter form of Latin biflorus meaning having two flowers Despite the name the flower clusters often have more than two flowers 2 P biflorum is now regarded as including a number of other species and varieties e g P biflorum var commutatum or P commutatum Uses editHistorically the Native Americans consumed the starch rich rhizomes of smooth Solomon s seal as a potato like food used to make breads and soups The young shoots are also edible raw or boiled for an asparagus like food 5 Smooth Solomon s seal was also used in herbal medicine For example the rhizome was used in making a tonic for gout and rheumatism 6 Smooth Solomon s seal has had nearly a dozen uses in herbal medicine including as an anti inflammatory sedative and tonic 7 Smooth Solomon s seal is not used in large scale agriculture References edit The Plant List A Working List of All Plant Species Retrieved 17 May 2015 a b Utech Frederick H 2002 Polygonatum biflorum In Flora of North America Editorial Committee ed Flora of North America North of Mexico FNA Vol 26 New York and Oxford Oxford University Press via eFloras org Missouri Botanical Garden St Louis MO amp Harvard University Herbaria Cambridge MA Niering William A Olmstead Nancy C 1985 1979 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers Eastern Region Knopf p 605 ISBN 0 394 50432 1 Denison Edgar 2017 Missouri Wildflowers Sixth ed Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri p 26 ISBN 978 1 887247 59 7 a b Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The University of Texas at Austin www wildflower org Bausor S C 1937 Medicinal Plants of Our Local Flora Torreya 373 3 45 JSTOR 40597114 Duke J A 2002 Handbook of medicinal herbs 2nd ed pp 25 26 Boca Raton CRC Press Blanchan Neltje 2002 1900 Wild Flowers An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Blanchan Neltje 2005 1917 Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation External links editUSDA Plants Profile for Polygonatum biflorum smooth Solomon s seal Connecticut Botanical Society Polygonatum biflorum nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polygonatum biflorum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Polygonatum biflorum amp oldid 1194664952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
