Polygonatum
Polygonatum Solomon's seal
Solomon's seal species in our state are rhizomatous, perennial herbs (forbs) with singular, unbranched stems and alternate stem leaves. Axillary flowers may occur in pairs, singularly or in umbel. Fruit is a blue-black berry.
The underground rhizome produces a new stem that withers away in the summer, leaving a knob-like scar on the rhizome resembling a wax seal. That is how the plants in this group acquired their common name 'seal'. These knobs also inspired the latin name of the genus meaning 'many-jointed'. The medieval herbalists believed that the knobs were set on the plant by King Solomon's as a testimony to its medicinal value.