Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott
Smooth Solomon’s-seal, King Solomon’s-seal, great Solomon’s seal
Smooth Solomon’s-seal, a member of the Lily family, is native to North America.
Plants: Up to 4′ (1.2 m) in length, often bent to grow sideways, perhaps to capture as much light as possible.
Leaves: Yellow-green leaves appear alternately along the stem. They are oval, pointed at each end, up to 7″ (18 cm) long by 2½″ (7 cm) wide.
Flowers: Delicate greenish-white or yellowish-green bell-shaped flowers hang downward in groups of 1-5 flowers, each about ½ ⨉ ⅛″ (1.3 cm ⨉ 5 mm).
Fruits: Bluish-black fleshy berries.
Habitats: Woods, prairies, in sandy, loamy soil.
 |
Similar species. |
Online References:
5/17/2016 · Worcester Road Trails, Beaver Br, Hollis, New Hampshire 
7/23/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
6/4/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts 
9/3/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) 
5/7/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
5/11/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
4/29/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 7″ (14 × 17 cm) 
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/23/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm) 
Usually the flowers are in pairs or multiples. · 5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm) 
A stiff breeze makes it easier to see the flowers, which normally hang below the stem. You can also see the fine hairs that make the leaf undersides look whitish. · 5/17/2016 · Worcester Road Trails, Beaver Br, Hollis, New Hampshire 
8/17/2019 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
1/5/2026 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
5/5/2016 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire 
5/15/1979 · Virginia · By Tim Chandler 
Usually the flowers are in pairs or multiples. · 5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
9/26/2010 · Brooks Woodland Preserve, Swift River Tract, Petersham, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
5/26/2024 · McLaughlin Garden and Homestead, South Paris, Maine 
9/26/2010 · Brooks Woodland Preserve, Swift River Tract, Petersham, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Liliidae | Includes lilies, orchids, and many others |
| Order | Asparagales | A diverse group that includes asparagus |
| Family | Asparagaceae | Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others |
| Genus | Polygonatum | Greek for “with many knees,” referring to the swollen joints of stems |
| Species | biflorum | “Two-flowered” |
Polygonatum biflorum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.