Polygonatum Solomon’s Seal- 30 species, No. Hemishpere 
Characterized by fleshy, often white rhizomes, covered with large round scars from past stems. The stems are jointed and erect or nodding. Leaves have paralell venation. Cylindrical flowers are , white, cream or greenish colored. Propogation occurs mainly by division as seeds must lie dormant over winter and seedlings are slow growing.


P. biflorum- “Small Solomon’s Seal” -Connecticut to Ontario and Nebraska, South to Florida and Texas

            Stems to 1 m high, arching

            Leaves alternate, sessile, elliptic- lanceceolate, to 12 cm long, glabrous, glaucous underneath

            Flowers greenish white, 1-3 on axilary peduncles

            Fruits blue to black

 
P. commutatum – “Great Solomon’s Seal”- New Hampshire to Manitoba, South to Georgia and Mexico

            Stems 0.6 to 2 m high, arching

            Leaves alternate, ovate to lanceolate, 15 cm long, 10 cm wide

            Flowers greenish, large, 15-20 mm long, 3-8 on  a peduncle

 
 P. falcatum- Japan, Korea

            Stems erect, 10-15 cm high

            Leaves distichious, oval

            Flowers greenish white, solitary, peduncles below the leaf axils

 
P. hookeri -Asia, W. Sichuan, Tibet, Sikkim

            Stems erect 5-7 cm high,

            Leaves alternate, 1-1.5 cm long oval

            Flowers 1 cm long, solitary, erect at leaf axils, lilac or purple

P. multiflorum -Europe, Meadiatranean region, Asia minor, Himalayas, Siberia

            Stems round, to 60 cm high, nodding

            Leaves flat, ovate to eliptic, 5-15 cm long

            Flowers grouped 3-5, long peduncled, pendulous, white, greenish at apex

            Fruits are blue-black

P. odoratum “Solomon’s Seal” -Europe, Meditaranean region, Siberia to Dahuria

            Stems angular, arching to 45 cm high

            Leaves stem clasping, distichious, alternate, ovate to elliptic-oblong, glabrous, somewhat ascending

            Flowers solitary or paired white, green spotted in the throat

            Fruits blue-black