Starry False Solomon’s Seal
This gorgeous forest floor plant reminded me of Lily of the Valley which is also called Solomon’s Seal. That family is Polgonatum and is considered a valuable medicinal plant. I don’t know if the species I found…Starry False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) is also considered medicinal but maybe not since the word “false” is in the title. Either way…it was fun researching this one. I’m still trying to find out why it’s called “Solomon”, though.
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I received a couple of emails regarding more information on the origin of the name “Solomon’s Seal”. Thanks Chris and Howard! Here are a few theories:
The origin of the common English name of the plant is variously given. Dr. Prior tells us it comes from ‘the flat, round scars on the rootstocks, resembling the impressions of a seal and called Solomon’s, because his seal occurs in Oriental tales.’
Another explanation is that these round depressions, or the characters which appear when the root is cut transversely, and which somewhat resemble Hebrew characters, gave rise to the notion that Solomon ‘who knew the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots,’ has set his seal upon them in testimony of its value to man as a medicinal root.
Gerard maintained that the name Sigillum Solomons was given to the root partly because it bears marks something like the stamp of a seal, but still more because of the virtue the root hath in sealing and healing up green wounds, broken bones and such like, being stamp’t and laid thereon.’