Photo by Jim Jung. All rights reserved.

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's Seal is an interesting plant surrounded by a wealth of folklore. This graceful plant arises from a branching perennial root (rhizome). Each thick, starchy rhizome division produces one stem per year which – after dying back in the fall – leaves a large, irregular scar. Some people claim to see the impression of the royal seal of King Solomon in these scars hence the common name.

Solomon's Seal favors mature, undisturbed woodlands and is most often encountered (in our area) on rich, moderately shaded hillsides where a single stem can reach up to five feet in length. In the spring each leaf axil produces up to four small, bell-shaped green flowers that eventually become small (3/8"), purple fruit. [A second species (P. biflorum) occurs on the dry hilltops and ledges of the Shawnee Hills. This species is much smaller (usually no more than two feet in length) with waxier leaves to prevent water loss and sports just two flowers from each leaf axil.]

One of this plant's more interesting traits is its method of pollination. The flowers of Solomon's Seal are pollinated by bumblebees. Before the plant will release any significant amount of pollen however the flower first has to be "buzzed" or vibrated at the proper frequency – a trick which only the right pollinator can perform. When done properly the visiting bee is rewarded with a shower of pollen which covers and sticks to its wooly coat. The bee removes most of the clinging pollen and packs it in its pollen baskets but some is invariably missed and serves to fertilize the next flower visited. So if you're walking through the woods in springtime and hear what sounds like a series of angry buzzes relax, it's just bees pollinating the flowers.

Solomon's Seal was an important aboriginal food plant before the arrival of the Europeans and was cultivated by a large number of historic tribes within its range. It was a multiple-use plant and was used in different ways at different seasons. The tender young springtime shoots were steamed like asparagus and eaten as a vegetable. The small (but numerous) fall fruits were mildly sweet and could either be eaten fresh or dried and stored for later use as a winter food. The starchy rhizomes – which were harvestable at any time the ground was unfrozen – could either be eaten fresh or dried and stored. Propagation was easily accomplished by division of the rhizomes and was usually done during the fall harvest.

Solomon's Seal also had some limited (and brief) medicinal uses. Fumes from a piece of the burning root was supposed to revive persons who had fainted. The Chippewas called the plant "Bear Root" and used it for back and kidney troubles – however the root was only effective for this purpose if stored in a bag made from bear paws. European pioneers used the root for treating heart problems, hemorrhoids, arthritis, poison ivy, skin irritations and freckles – possibly learning of these uses from Indian contacts. In any event it seems that all of these medicinal uses were ineffective.

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