Solomon's Seal

Description:

This native perennial plant is about 2-3' tall and unbranched. The central stem is glabrous, glaucous, and round in circumference; it leans over to one side. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 4" across; they are spaced fairly close together along the stem. These leaves are ovate and glabrous; they have parallel veins and clasp the stem. From the upper axils of the middle and upper leaves, there are nodding umbels of 1-5 flowers (rarely more than this). A typical plant will have 12-20 of these umbels, which hang below the leaves. The peduncle and pedicels of each umbel are slender and green. The flowers are whitish green or pale yellowish green and about 2/3–3/4" in length. Each flower has a narrow tubular shape with 6 small lobes that are slightly recurved. Within the interior of this flower, there is a pistil with a single style and 6 stamens. The blooming period occurs during late spring or early summer and lasts about 3 weeks. Each flower is replaced by a spheroid berry that is about 1/3–1/2" across. This berry is initially green, but it eventually becomes dark blue-violet. The root system produces rhizomes that are rather stout and knobby; on the upper surface of these rhizomes, there are circular scars. This plant often forms colonies.

Habitat:

Habitats include moist to slightly dry deciduous woodlands, shady seeps, young flatwoods, woodland borders, and fencerows that are overgrown with shrubs or trees. Less often, this plant may occur in meadows near woodlands and mesic prairies. Solomon's Seal occurs in both high quality and degraded woodlands.Typical growing conditions are light shade to partial sun, mesic levels of moisture, and fertile loamy soil. This plant is fairly rugged and tolerates less than ideal conditions. The foliage persists all summer and is rarely bothered by disease. This one was photographed at Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve in McCormick County, SC

Notes:

The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract various long-tongued bees, including bumblebees, Anthophorine bees, and Little Carpenter bees. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird also sucks nectar from the flowers.