Polygonatum biflorum

Smooth Solomon's-seal
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Nolinoideae
Genus:	Polygonatum
Species:	P. biflorum
Binomial name
Polygonatum biflorum Ell.
Synonyms[1]
Convallaria angustifolia (Pursh) Poir. Convallaria biflora Walter Convallaria canaliculata Willd. Convallaria commutata Schult. & Schult.f. Polygonatum angustifolium Pursh Polygonatum canaliculatum (Willd.) Pursh Polygonatum cobrense (Wooton & Standl.) R.R.Gates Polygonatum commutatum (Schult. & 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 & Standl. Salomonia commutata (Schult. & Schult.f.) Britton Salomonia commutatum (Schult. f.) Farw. Sigillaria angustifolia (Pursh) Raf. Sigillaria biflora (Walter) Raf. Sigillaria canaliculata (Willd.) Raf. Sigillaria elliptica Raf.

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 make 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] Solomon’s Seal is not used in large-scale agriculture.

References

1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 17 May 2015.
2. Flora of North American 26. pp. 211–211.
3. Eric Toensmeier (December 13, 2009). "Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum – giant Solomon's seal". Retrieved July 28, 2013.
4. Bausor, S. C. (1937). "Medicinal Plants of Our Local Flora". Torreya 373 (3): 45. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
5. 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