Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum (False Solomon’s seal)

Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link ssp. racemosum

False Solomon’s seal, treacleberry, Solomon’s plume, false spikenard

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Asparagaceae	Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others
Genus	Maianthemum	From Greek for “May flower,” for the blooming season
Species	racemosum	With flowers in racemes
ssp.	racemosum	With flowers in racemes

About plant names...

False Solomon’s seal is a native of North America. The term “false” is because of its resemblance to Solomon's seal.

Identification: Grows to a height of 12-36" (30-91 cm), typically oriented mostly sideways, presumably to capture more sunlight. Leaves are alternate, oval-shaped, pointed on each end, with parallel veins, about 2½-6" (7-15 cm) long and 1-2" (3-6 cm) wide. Flowers are white, in feathery groups 2-4" (5-10 cm) long, each about ⅛" (3.2 mm) in diameter. Berries are bronze spotted with red at first, later becoming blackish red.

5/5/2016 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook C, Hollis, New Hampshire ID is uncertain

6/4/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 12 × 17" (29 × 43 cm)

Some similar species:

	*Polygonatum biflorum*	*Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum ‘Variegatum’*	*Polygonatum humile*
Common Name	smooth Solomon’s-seal	variegated Solomon’s Seal	dwarf Solomon’s seal
Plant	Up to 24" (60 cm) long.	Reaches 8-20" (20-50 cm).	Up to 12" (30 cm) in height.
Flowers	Greenish-white, about ½" (1.3 cm) long by ⅛" (3.2 mm) around, bell-shaped, hanging in groups of 1-5.	White or greenish-white, like long bells, about ½" (1.3 cm) long, hanging downward, often in pairs. Whiter than P. biflorum..	White, bell-shaped, about ¼" (8.3 mm) long, hanging singly from stem.
Leaves	Up to 7" (18 cm) by 2½" (7 cm), oval, with pointed ends and parallel veins, yellow-green.	Oval, green fringed with white, 3-9" (7.6-22 cm) long.	Elliptical, green, 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long.
Fruit	¼" (6.3 mm) blue berries.	Dark blue to black, less than ¼" (6.3 mm) around.	Shiny black, about ⅛" (3.2 mm) around.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-9	USDA Zones: 4-8	USDA Zones: 5-8
Habitats	Woods, prairies, in sandy, loamy soil	Wooded areas, dappled shade, deep shade	Full to partial shade in temperate climates
Type	Wild	Cultivar	Wild

Online References:

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum on Wildflowers of the United States

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum on CalPhotos

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum on Wikipedia

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum at the Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

9/12/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 6" (15 × 15 cm)

7/27/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 16 × 12" (40 × 31 cm)

5/11/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

5/28/2016 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail

6/2/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 6" (18 × 16 cm)

6/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 3" (12 × 8.4 cm)

5/17/2016 · Worcester Road Trails, Beaver Br, Hollis, New Hampshire

8/18/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 13 × 9" (32 × 24 cm) ID is uncertain

5/30/2014 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 11 × 7" (28 × 18 cm)

8/6/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 13 cm)

8/6/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 7" (14 × 18 cm)

9/18/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 6" (13 × 15 cm)

7/28/2017 · Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 12 cm)

6/4/2021 · Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation, Woolwich, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 5" (18 × 12 cm)

5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 8 × 7" (20 × 18 cm)

Convallaria racemosa L.

Smilacina ciliata Desf.

Smilacina flexicaulis Wender

Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf.

Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. var. cylindrata Fernald

Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. var. lanceolata B. Boivin

Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. var. typica Fernald

Vagnera australis Rydb.

Vagnera racemosa (L.) Morong

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 24 Aug 2021.

8/14/2021 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 3½ × 5" (9 × 13 cm)

8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 10" (20 × 26 cm)

6/23/2013 · Rocky Ridge Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm)

7/25/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

6/1/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 23 cm)

8/21/2018 · Oak Hill, Littleton, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 14 cm)

6/18/2012 · Vaughn Woods, South Berwick, Maine
≈ 9 × 7" (23 × 18 cm)

9/13/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 7 × 9" (16 × 22 cm)

8/14/2015 · Roost Trail, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 6 × 8" (15 × 20 cm)

7/21/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 8 × 6" (19 × 15 cm)

10/7/2012 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

9/20/2015 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Big Tree Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 22 cm)

9/7/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 5 × 7" (13 × 16 cm)

5/15/1979 · Virginia · By Tim Chandler

Range:

About this map...