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false Solomon’s seal

plant
Also known as: Smilacina

Quick Summary

False Solomon's seal refers to plants in the genus Smilacina. These are herbaceous perennials found in the Northern Hemisphere, often in damp, wooded areas. They are distinguished from true Solomon's seal (Polygonatum) by their flower clusters, which appear at the tips of their stems rather than in the leaf axils. True Solomon's seal plants have gnarled rhizomes and tubular flowers. The name "Solomon's seal" is thought to originate from the appearance of scars on the rootstock resembling a seal, or from the plant's historical use in sealing wounds.12

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