Maianthemum stellatum

Maianthemum stellatum Linnaeus (4)

by Stacy McKnight, Native Plants of Arizona 2005

Common names: false soloman’s seal, starry Solomon’s-seal, star-flowered Solomon's-seal,

starry Solomon plume, starry smilac, spikenard (2), little flase solomon’s seal (4)

Family: Liiliaceae (1)

Synonymy: Smilacina stellata (2,4)

Etymology: Maius in latin means May and anthemon means flower (4). Stellatum means somewhat stellate or star-like (7).

Identification

Growth form: Clonal herb (1,2) 15-45 cm tall (4).

Roots: The roots of starry Solomon's-seal are dimorphic. A large root that grows straight downward occurs at the junction between some segments; numerous small roots emanate in all directions from the rhizome. (2) Sympodial rhizomes, proliferatively spreading (4).

Stem: Aerial stems arise from rhizomes, erect (2) 2.5-5 dm tall and 2-3.5 mm wide (4).

Leaves: Dark green (5). Alternate (2), 8-11 cm long, sessile, clumping, blade ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, base rounded, apex acute (4).

Inflorescence/flowers: White star-like, with 6 petallike segments (5). 4-5 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide (4). Inflorescencee racemose, simple with 6-15 flowers (4). Flowers white, star-like (3).

Fruit: Reddish berries dotted with purple, each berry to ¼ inch long (5). Seeds 1-6 (4).

Similar species: Maianthemum racemosum- Rhizomes 8-14 mm wide, inflorescence paniculate, tepals inconspicuous (4).

Ecology

Life history: Rhizomatous perennial herb (4).

Native/introduced: Native and widespread in the United States (2, 4)

Photosynthetic pathway:

Phenology: Shoots of starry Solomon's-seal generally appear in late April, and

flowering occurs from late May through early June (2)

Distribution: Grows on sand dunes, marginal woodlands and oak openings from 0-3200 m. (4). Also occurs in moist rich forests (5). Solomon's seal occurs widely over much of North America and

Canada. It ranges from Alaska to California; northern British Columbia to

the southern Rocky Mountain states of Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona; east to

the New England states, and south through the Carolinas. (2) Occurs in Arizona in Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties at 5400-10,000 ft (6).

Uses Starry Solomon's seal fruits and leaves are eaten by grizzly bears. Elk consume the

leaves of starry Solomon's seal in summer, and ruffed grouse eat the berries in the fall. The Nuxalk Indians of British Columbia collected the ripe berries from Solomon's seal from July to August for food. (2)

Infusion of root used as an antiseptic wash in cases of blood poisoning. Compound containing root taken to stimulate the stomach and cleanse the system. Also used in cough syrup, for venereal disease, earaches and menstral problems. (3)

References

1. USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. (http://www.plants.usda.gov/.

2. Habeck, R. J. 1992. Maianthemum stellatum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire

Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

[2005, November 22].

3. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotany Database (http://herb.umd.umich.edu/). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA.

4. Flora of North America. Vol. 26. Oxford University Press, 2002.

5. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Falcon Publishing. Helena, Montana.

6. McDougal, W.B. 1973. Seed Plants of Northern Arizona. The Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff, Arizona.

7. Bailey, L.H. 1963. How Plants Get Their Names. Dover Publishing, Inc. New York.

Maianthemum stellatum Linnaeus (4) by Stacy McKnight, Native Plants of Arizona 2005 Common names: false soloman’s seal, starry Solomon’s-seal, star-flowered Solomon's-seal, starry Solomon plume, starry smilac, spikenard (2), little flase solomon’s seal (4) Family: Liiliaceae (1) Synonymy: Smilacina stellata (2,4) Etymology: Maius in latin means May and anthemon means flower (4). Stellatum means somewhat stellate or star-like (7). Identification Growth form: Clonal herb (1,2) 15-45 cm tall (4). Roots: The roots of starry Solomon's-seal are dimorphic. A large root that grows straight downward occurs at the junction between some segments; numerous small roots emanate in all directions from the rhizome. (2) Sympodial rhizomes, proliferatively spreading (4). Stem: Aerial stems arise from rhizomes, erect (2) 2.5-5 dm tall and 2-3.5 mm wide (4). Leaves: Dark green (5). Alternate (2), 8-11 cm long, sessile, clumping, blade ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, base rounded, apex acute (4). Inflorescence/flowers: White star-like, with 6 petallike segments (5). 4-5 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide (4). Inflorescencee racemose, simple with 6-15 flowers (4). Flowers white, star-like (3). Fruit: Reddish berries dotted with purple, each berry to ¼ inch long (5). Seeds 1-6 (4). Similar species: Maianthemum racemosum- Rhizomes 8-14 mm wide, inflorescence paniculate, tepals inconspicuous (4). Ecology Life history: Rhizomatous perennial herb (4). Native/introduced: Native and widespread in the United States (2, 4) Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Shoots of starry Solomon's-seal generally appear in late April, and flowering occurs from late May through early June (2) Distribution: Grows on sand dunes, marginal woodlands and oak openings from 0-3200 m. (4). Also occurs in moist rich forests (5). Solomon's seal occurs widely over much of North America and Canada. It ranges from Alaska to California; northern British Columbia to the southern Rocky Mountain states of Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona; east to the New England states, and south through the Carolinas. (2) Occurs in Arizona in Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties at 5400-10,000 ft (6). Uses Starry Solomon's seal fruits and leaves are eaten by grizzly bears. Elk consume the leaves of starry Solomon's seal in summer, and ruffed grouse eat the berries in the fall. The Nuxalk Indians of British Columbia collected the ripe berries from Solomon's seal from July to August for food. (2) Infusion of root used as an antiseptic wash in cases of blood poisoning. Compound containing root taken to stimulate the stomach and cleanse the system. Also used in cough syrup, for venereal disease, earaches and menstral problems. (3) References 1. USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. (http://www.plants.usda.gov/. 2. Habeck, R. J. 1992. Maianthemum stellatum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2005, November 22]. 3. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotany Database (http://herb.umd.umich.edu/). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA. 4. Flora of North America. Vol. 26. Oxford University Press, 2002. 5. Epple, A. O. 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona. Falcon Publishing. Helena, Montana. 6. McDougal, W.B. 1973. Seed Plants of Northern Arizona. The Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff, Arizona. 7. Bailey, L.H. 1963. How Plants Get Their Names. Dover Publishing, Inc. New York.