Polygonatum biflorum
| Smooth Solomon's-seal | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Nolinoideae |
| Genus: | Polygonatum |
| Species: | P. biflorum
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| Binomial name | |
| Polygonatum biflorum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Polygonatum biflorum (smooth Solomon's-seal, great Solomon's-seal, Solomon's seal). The plant is said to possess scars on the rhizome that resemble the ancient Hebrew seal of King Solomon. This is a species of the genus Polygonatum native to eastern and central North America.[2] It is often confused with Solomon's Plume which has upright flowers.
Description
Unbranched leaf stalks of one to several feet in length, with simple, alternate leaves and parallel veins. In May, 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.
Taxonomy
Polygonatum is derived from Greek, “poly” meaning many, and “gony” meaning knees. biflorum is from Latin “biflorus” meaning two flowers.
P. biflorum is now regarded as including a number of other species and varieties, e.g. P. biflorum var. commutatum or P. commutatum.
Uses
Historically, the Native Americans consumed the starch-rich rhizomes of Solomon’s Seal as a “potato-like food” used to made breads and soups. The young shoots are also edible, raw or boiled for an asparagus-like food.[3] Solomon’s seal was not only consumed for sustenance, but also for its medicinal properties. For example, the rhizome was used in making a tonic for gout and rheumatism.[4] Solomon’s Seal is listed today in the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs as having nearly a dozen medicinal uses including as an anti-inflammatory, sedative, and tonic.[5][unreliable medical source?] Solomon’s Seal is not used in large-scale agriculture.
References
- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ Flora of North American. Vol. 26. pp. 211–211.
- ^ Eric Toensmeier (December 13, 2009). "Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum – giant Solomon's seal". Retrieved July 28, 2013.
- ^ Bausor, S. C. (1937). "Medicinal Plants of Our Local Flora". Torreya. 373 (3): 45. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
- ^ 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
- USDA Plants Profile for Polygonatum biflorum (smooth Solomon's seal)
- Connecticut Botanical Society: Polygonatum biflorum
- NatureServe secure species
- Polygonatum
- Flora of Eastern Canada
- Flora of the Eastern United States
- Flora of the Appalachian Mountains
- Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America)
- Flora of the Great Plains (North America)
- Flora of the North-Central United States
- Flora of the South-Central United States
- Flora of the Northeastern United States
- Flora of the Southeastern United States
- Flora of Alberta
- Flora of Michigan
- Flora of New Mexico
- Flora of Virginia
- Flora of Wyoming
- Plants described in 1788
- Medicinal plants of North America
- Plants used in traditional Native American medicine
- Plants used in Native American cuisine
- Garden plants of North America