Polygonatum biflorum (Smooth Solomon’s-seal)

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Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott

Smooth Solomon’s-seal, smooth Solomon's seal, King Solomon’s-seal, great Solomon’s seal, smooth Solomon’

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
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”

About plant names...

Smooth Solomon's-seal, a member of the Lily family, is native to North America.

Identification: Plants reach up to 4′ (1.2 m) in length, often bent to grow sideways, probably to capture as much light as possible. 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. Delicate greenish-white or yellowish-green bell-shaped flowers hang downward in groups of 1-5 flowers, each about ½″ (1.3 cm) by ⅛″ (5 mm).

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)

Some similar species:

	You are here Polygonatum biflorum	*Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum ‘Variegatum’*	*Polygonatum humile*
Common Name	smooth Solomon’s-seal	variegated Solomon’s Seal	dwarf Solomon’s seal
Plant	Up to 2′ (60 cm) long.	Reaches 8-20″ (20-50 cm).	Up to 1′ (30 cm) in height.
Flowers	Greenish-white, about ½″ (1.3 cm) long by ⅛″ (3.2 mm) around, bell-shaped, hanging in groups of 1-5.	White or greenish-white, like long bells, about ½″ (1.3 cm) long, hanging downward, often in pairs. Whiter than P. biflorum..	White, bell-shaped, about ¼″ (8.3 mm) long, hanging singly from stem.
Leaves	Up to 7″ (18 cm) by 2½″ (7 cm), oval, with pointed ends and parallel veins, yellow-green.	Oval, green fringed with white, 3-9″ (7.6-22 cm) long.	Elliptical, green, 1-3″ (2.5-7.6 cm) long.
Fruit	¼″ (6.3 mm) blue berries.	Dark blue to black, less than ¼″ (6.3 mm) around.	Shiny black, about ⅛″ (3.2 mm) around.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-9	USDA Zones: 4-8	USDA Zones: 5-8
Habitats	Woods, prairies, in sandy, loamy soil	Wooded areas, dappled shade, deep shade	Full to partial shade in temperate climates
Type	Wild	Cultivar	Wild

Online References:

Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

Illinois Wildflowers

Missouriplants.com

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

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 Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 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 Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, 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

Polygonatum biflorum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.

8/17/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

7/29/2023 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

5/5/2016 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook C, Hollis, New Hampshire

5/15/1979 · Virginia · By Tim Chandler

Usually the flowers are in pairs or multiples. · 5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

9/26/2010 · Brooks Woodland Preserve, Swift River Tract, Petersham, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

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

Range: Zones 3-9:

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