Polygonatum biflorum

American Indian Names No traditional names could be found.

Description

In the early spring, the perennial Solomon seal appears from the ground. It has a long pencil-like body. The Solomon Seal usually grows fro, 1 to 4 feet long. It has berries that form during the summer from the bell-shaped flowers. The berries range in color from dark blue to purple, globe-shaped, fleshy, and several-to-many-seeded.

Location and Habitat Solomon Seal can be found throughout Nebraska but is less common in the western portions of the state. It can be found mainly in moist soil of wooded hillsides and roadsides. On the reservation, it's found on roadsides, in Big Elk Park and east of the Pow-Wow Grounds.

Uses

The rhizomes on the Solomon Seal contain a substance called allantoin, which is used for external treatment of wounds and skin ulcers. It's also a good butterfly plant. The berries that form contain anthraquinone that causes vomiting and diarrhea in humans. The rhizomes were boiled and eaten by Native Americans and early pioneers. In 16^th Century Europe, powdered rhizomes were thought to be a panacea for cuts, sounds, and bruises.

By Ashlea E. Aldrich

This Page was last update: Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 11:16:11 AM
This page was originally posted: 11/21/07; 10:29:15 AM.
Copyright 2008 Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation

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