Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0818.JPG-05-15-2024
Flower name (scientific): Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott PY: 1817. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) po-lig-oh-NAY-tum (pol-ig-on-AT-um or pol-ig-on-A-tum) by-FLOR-um
Flower name (common): Smooth Solomon's Seal
Family name (common): Butcher's Broom
Family name (scientific): Ruscaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek polys for many and gonu for knee-joint, referring to the numerous joints of the rhizomes.
    Specific epithet: Two-flowered.
Common name origin: Solomon's Seal possibly refers to markings on the root-stock. It might also refer to the use of the roots to help seal up wounds.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.4 to 0.7 inches (1.0 to 1.8 cm)
     Petal count: 0
     Color: green or yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Raceme
Plant description:
     Size: 12 to 60 inches (30 to 152 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to 20 cm long and 9 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate to broadly elliptic (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): May to July
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Prairies, woods, forests, streambanks, roadsides, sun or part shade, dry to moist.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower.
Similar species (if any): Polygonatum pubescens (Hairy Solomon's Seal) resembles Polygonatum biflorum, with the former having the lower leaf surface hairy, whereas the latter has leaves that are hairless. The foliage of Polygonatum biflorum resembles that of Maianthemum racemosum (False Solomon's Seal) and Maianthemum stellatum (Starry False Solomon's Seal), but the latter two species have a central stem that terminates in a cluster of flowers.
Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed the roots of this plant as an ingredient in a mixture that was burned and the smoke used to revive an unconscious person (Smith, p. 41, 1923). The Meskwaki used this plant in a similar fashion to revive an unconsciousness person using the smoke from the burning root (Smith, p. 230, 1928). The Ojibwe used the root to prepare a tea that was employed as a cough remedy, and also used the root as a physic (Smith, p. 374, 1932; Gilmore, p. 126, 1933).
Latitude: 44.795415
Longitude: -91.502468
Altitude: 283.90
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Convallaria biflora Walter Fl. Carol. 122. 1788.
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU