Environment/ pests
What region can these plants grow in?
Northern Hemisphere- U.S. and Canada
What is the scientific name for Solomon’s Seal?
Polygonatum biflorum
How much does a packet of seeds cost?
Around $5
The shoots were sometimes eaten like ______?
Asparagus
How long are the stems?
Average of 3ft but can get up to 5ft.
In what type of soil will these plants thrive?
Shady spots with rich soil, but they can adapt to other environments.
What genus is this plant a part of?
Polygonatum
Solomon’s Seal are generally used as _____?
Foliage plants
Greeks and Romans thought of this to be a ________ plant.
Poisonous
How many leaves are on the plant and what shape are they?
10-25 oval shaped leaves.
What is the Solomon’s Seal Sawfly?
A gray caterpillar-like larvae that eat the foliage.
Is this plant dicot or monocot?
Monocot
In what forms is the plant sold today?
The plant is sold as tea, in capsules, and as extract.
When was this plant introduced to English medicine?
1597
What does the fruit look like?
It’s a dark blue to black, many seeded berry.
What USDA zones does this plant grow in?
Zones 3-8
Is this an annual or perennial plant?
Perennial
The main uses for Solomon’s Seal in medicine are?
Aiding in inflammation, bruising, and lung disorders.
The plant has been used for traditional _____ and _____ medicine.
Chinese and Korean
Are the berries poisonous?
Yes, they are known to excite vomiting.
How do foliar nematodes( worm-like structures that feed off the foliage of the leaves) appear on monocot plants like Solomon’s Seal?
Linear as opposed to spotted.
When do the flowers of this plant bloom?
May-June
How were they used in Europe during times of famine?
They were boiled, mashed, and baked into bread.
How did Solomon’s Seal get its name?
Rhizomes have scars from past years which look similar to the shape on King Solomon’s seal
What does each peduncle(stalk of flower) look like?
Each peduncle has 1–3 small, tubular, greenish-white flowers about ¾ inch long, which hang like bells.