False Solomon's Seal

Maianthemum racemosum

Formerly Smilacina racemosa

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Subspecies amplexicaule

The False Soloman's Seal is a member of the lily family and is found in woodland areas through much of North America. This plant is usually a 12" or more high with a considerable number of oblong-lancelate to lance-ovate leaves, with topped by a 2-3" flower spike. Some writers have confused it with the False Lily-of-the-Valley which is a small plant often with just a single heartshaped leaf (but up to 3) and a flower spike of perhaps an 1"

Many publications classify this plant as a Smilacina racemosa however, in recent years botanists have reclassified and combined the Smilacina genus with the Maianthemum genus which has lead to some confusion. Consequently what Peck has as Smilacina amplexicaulis using Nutts classification and as Smilacina racemosa using Desf. classification, is now Maianthemum racemosum, subspecies amplexicaule.

Additional information: see Wikpedia - False Soloman's Seal