Hairy Solomon's Seal

Rhizomes shallowly set, 1–1.8 cm thick. Stems erect, 5–9(–11) dm; sheathing bract cauline, papery, caducous. Leaves subsessile or short-petiolate, 4–15 × 2–5.5(–7.5) cm; blade elliptic-lanceolate to broadly ovate, glabrous adaxially, minutely hairy or pilose on abaxial veins; prominent veins 3–9. Inflorescences in most leaf axils except distalmost and proximal 2–4; peduncle sharply reflexed, axillary 1–3(–5)-flowered, to 2 cm in fruit. Flowers: perianth yellowish green, tube 10–13(–15) mm, distinct tips 2–3 mm; stamens inserted high in perianth tube; filaments densely warty; pedicel to 1.3 cm in fruit. Berries 6–9 mm. 2n = 20.

N.B., N.S., Ont., Que.; Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Flowering early--late spring.

Rich moist wooded slopes and coves; 0--1100m.

Convallaria pubescens Willdenow, Hort. Berol. 1: 45. 1803

This plant attracts birds and butterflies. (NPIN, 2007)

This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. Common names are from state and federal lists. In Illinois Small Solomon's Seal is listed as Endangered. (USDA PLANTS, 2009)

Bloom time is April-June. (NPIN, 2007) Blooming occurs May-July. (UW, 2009) Flowering occurs early to late spring. (FNA, 2003)

USA: CT , DE , GA , IL , IN , IA , KY , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VT , VA , WV , WI (NPIN, 2007)

Canada: NB , NS , ON (NPIN, 2007)

USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) (NPIN, 2007)

2n = 20. (FNA, 2003)

Native habitat is dry to moist woods. (NPIN, 2007) Habitat consists of shady, moist woods and thickets. (UW, 2009) This plant occurs in rich, moist wooded slopes and coves to 1100 m in elevation. (FNA, 2003)

This is a perennial. (NPIN, 2007)

Smilacina stellata (Starry False Solomon's Seal), Polygonatum biflorum (True Solomon's Seal) has dark blue berries in the leaf axils, and Smilacina trifolia (Three-leaved Solomon's Seal) has three leaves (and occasionally 2-4. (Weatherbee, 2006)

Overall This is an erect to arching perennial. (UW, 2009)

Flowers are yellow, green, or brown. (NPIN, 2007) The flowers are white to yellowish and 6-parted. They are tubular-shaped and stalked, with petal-like tepals united. The inflorescence are small, stalked clusters hanging downward along the stem. (UW, 2009) Inflorescences are present in most leaf axils except the distalmost and proximal 2–4. The peduncle is sharply reflexed, and axillary is 1–5-flowered. In flowers the perianth is yellowish green. The tube and tips are distinct. Stamens are inserted high in the perianth tube. Filaments are densely warty. (FNA, 2003)

Fruit are green berries. (NPIN, 2007) Blue berries are the fruit of this plant. (UW, 2009)

Leaves There are rows of short hairs on the underside of the leaf veins. (Weatherbee, 2006) Leaves are simple. (NPIN, 2007) Leaves are short-stalked, oblong, and alternate. The smaller veins on the underside are hairy. (UW, 2009) Leaves are subsessile or short-petiolate. Blades are elliptic-lanceolate to broadly ovate, glabrous (hairless) adaxially, and minutely hairy or pilose on abaxial veins. There are 3-9 prominent veins. (FNA, 2003)

Stems are zigzagging. (UW, 2009) Stems are erect. The sheathing bracts are cauline, papery, and caducous. Rhizomes shallowly set. (FNA, 2003)

POISONOUS PARTS: Berries are low toxicity if ingested. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. The Toxic Principle is Anthraquinone. (NPIN, 2007)

Plant is 20"-36" tall. (UW, 2009)

Flowers are 3/8"-1/2" long. (UW, 2009) The tube is 10–15 mm. The distinct tips of the tube are 2–3 mm. (FNA, 2003)

Fruit Inflorescence may be 2 cm in fruit. The pedicel may be up to 1.3 cm. Berries are 6–9 mm. (FNA, 2003)

Stems Rhizomes are 1–1.8 cm thick. Stems are 50–110 cm. (FNA, 2003)

Leaves are 4–15 × 2–7.5 cm. (FNA, 2003)

EDIBLE PARTS / PREPARATION: Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes and served like asparagus. Whole shoots can be cut up and put into salads. The rootstocks can be added to stew or boiled for 20 minutes and eaten like potatoes. (NPIN, 2007) Native American uses include by women for spitting up blood, for "gas on the stomach," to wash the eyes for snowblindness, and to "get a fish on each hook, every cast." (UM, 2009)

Polygonatum pubescens, the hairy Solomon's seal or downy Solomon's seal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to the north-central and eastern US and eastern Canada. It is a forest gap specialist.