Maianthemum racemosum (Linnaeus) Link. Eastern Solomon's-plume, May-Plume, Treacleberry, "False Solomon's-seal". Phen: Mid Apr-Jun; Aug-Oct. Hab: Moist to dry forests. Dist: The species (as here circumscribed narrowly to exclude the western M. amplexicaule) ranges from NS west to MB, south to GA, FL Panhandle, OK, and ne. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The circumscription of this taxon has varied, from separate taxa at species, subspecies, or varietal rank in eastern vs. western North America, to recognizing a single polymorphic species. Recent evidence supports recognition of two taxa at species rank (Floden 2017b). A variety of chromosome races are known (2n = 36, 72, 144). The eastern M. racemosum is tetraploid; M. amplexicaule (Nuttall) W.A. Weber is diploid and more western. Under the generic name Smilacina, two varieties had been described for our area, Smilacina racemosa var. racemosa and S. racemosa var. cylindrata Fernald, the former larger in nearly all respects and more northern than the latter, smaller, and more southern form (see F for details).

Synonymy: = K4, Floden (2017b) in Weakley et al (2017); = Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link ssp. racemosum – Ar, FNA26, K1, K3, Mo1, NE, NY, Va, Judd (2003), LaFrankie (1986); = Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. var. racemosa – Tx; < Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link – ETx1, Mi, Ok, Pa, Tn, WH3; < Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. – C, G, Il, RAB, W; > Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. var. cylindrata Fernald – F, Tat, WV; > Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. var. racemosa – F, WV; > Vagnera australis Rydb. – S, S13; > Vagnera racemosa (L.) Morong – S, S13

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
• Great Plains: FAC
• Midwest: FACU
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily: 4