FALSE SOLOMON’S SEAL
Maianthemum racemosum
LILY FAMILY (Liliaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - May, June
- Rare in moist woodlands
- Arching stem with pyramid shaped flower cluster of tiny flowers at the end
- Long, alternate, elliptical pointed leaves
- See comments for differentiation from similar species
This native perennial has an arching stem up to 4 feet long. Large, pointed elliptical leaves are alternate on the stem (C) with a pyramid-shaped, branched cluster of small white flowers at the end (A,B). The fruit is a berry, first green, then turning red (not shown).
Considered rare in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods where only a few plants have been observed in the past several years. This plant blooms in May and June.
Similar species, Starry Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum), has a narrower, unbranched flower cluster at the end of the stem. There are fewer, but larger, individual star-shaped flowers with 6 tepals (3 petals and 3 identical sepals). Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) has greenish tubular flowers that occur in pairs hidden under the leaves of its arching stem followed by green, ultimately purple berries after flowering.
Also known by the names, False Spikenard and False Lily of the Valley.
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