Copy permalink to share

Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott var. biflorum. Common name: Small Solomon's-seal. Phenology: Apr-Jun; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Moist to dry forests. Distribution: CT, NY, and s. ON west to MI, NE, and IN, south to n. FL, s. AL, and e. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: In addition to the varieties recognized for our area, P. biflorum includes two additional varieties: var. melleum (Farwell) R. Ownbey of MI and ON, and var. necopinum R. Ownbey from the Black Hills of SD. The complex needs additional study. See var. commutatum for discussion of its distinction from var. biflorum.

Synonymy ⓘ: = NSProv, NY, Pa, Va, Ownbey (1944); = Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott — F, G, Il, K4, Tat, WV; = Polygonatum canaliculatum (Muhl. ex Willd.) Pursh — Tat; < Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott — Ar, C, ETx1, FNA26, NcTx, NE, Ok, POWO, RAB, Tn, Tx, W, WH3, Judd (2003); >< Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott var. biflorum; >< Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott var. commutatum (Schult.f.) Morong — Mo1; < Polygonatum commutatum (Schult.f.) A.Dietr. — S; < Salomonia biflora (Walter) Britton — S13; Convallaria biflora Walter. Basionym: Convallaria biflora Walter 1788

Links to other floras: < Polygonatum biflorum - FNA26

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 3

Your browser does not support SVGs

Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.

image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Polygonatum biflorum var. variegatum, Duncan Ridge, Chattahoochee National Forest, Union County. Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷

Feedback

See something missing or incorrect about Polygonatum biflorum var. biflorum? Let us know here:

  1. Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
  2. If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
  3. Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
  4. Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
  5. Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.

Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Upright, arching perennial.

Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth with a waxy feel, sometimes with sheathing bracts at base.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile or clasping, lance-shaped to elliptic, 2-8 in. long, with prominent parallel veins, smooth, waxy-white lower surface.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers dangling below leaves on thin stalks from leaf axils, 1-5 flowers per axil; greenish white to yellow-green, 1/2-3/4 in. long, tubular with 6 spreading tepal tips.

Fruits: Fruit a blue-black, round berry about 1/3 in. wide.

Comments: The similar but much larger P. biflorum var. commutatum has thicker stems, can reach heights of nearly 6 ft., and its flower stalks from lower leaf axils are strongly flattened.

Height: 1-3 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Upright, arching perennial.

stems: Stems unbranched, smooth with a waxy feel, sometimes with sheathing bracts at base.

leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile or clasping, lance-shaped to elliptic, 2-8 in. long, with prominent parallel veins, smooth, waxy-white lower surface.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers dangling below leaves on thin stalks from leaf axils, 1-5 flowers per axil; greenish white to yellow-green, 1/2-3/4 in. long, tubular with 6 spreading tepal tips.

fruits: Fruit a blue-black, round berry about 1/3 in. wide.

comments: The similar but much larger P. biflorum var. commutatum has thicker stems, can reach heights of nearly 6 ft., and its flower stalks from lower leaf axils are strongly flattened.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



0 unsaved edits on this page.