Siberian Solomon's-seal

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Siberian Solomon's-seal

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Convallaria sibirica
• Polygonatum chinense

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Polygonatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in Northern Asia. In the Russian territory of Siberia, it can be found specifically within Buryatiya and Chitа. Its range extends into China, where it is documented throughout the Manchuria region. Additionally, the species is present in the Inner Mongolia area of China. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the North-Central part of the country.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Polygonatum sibiricum is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it thrives under the protective canopy of woodland ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning a significant vertical gradient within its environment. It is typically found at a mean elevation of approximately 1800 m AMSL, with its presence recorded from as low as 800 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 4200 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of adaptability to varying mountain climates and varying levels of solar exposure found within forested terrains.

Elevational range max:

4200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Polygonatum sibiricum is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functionally, it is classified as a geophyte, a life form where the essential regenerative organs are located underground, which enables the species to survive unfavorable environmental conditions or seasonal dormancy. Furthermore, it belongs to the cryptophyte category, meaning its shoot system remains largely concealed or protected at or below the soil surface during dormant periods, ensuring its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge annually.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Polygonatum sibiricum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one. It is a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies, and grows independently without any parasitic relationship to other organisms. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 0.55 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.55 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Polygonatum sibiricum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural habitat. The vegetative architecture is defined by its foliage, where the leaves exhibit significant morphological variation in size. Specifically, the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, with an average length of approximately 11.5 cm. Complementing these dimensions, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 0.6 cm and a maximum of 1.6 cm, contributing to the overall surface area optimized for light interception and gas exchange within the C3 metabolic framework.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

1.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Polygonatum sibiricum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and the development of distinct fleshy fruits. The flowering process typically commences in May and concludes within the same month, representing a concentrated blooming window. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that vary in size, with a recorded minimum length of 0.7 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 1 cm. On average, the fruit length measures approximately 0.85 cm, serving as the vessel for seed dispersal following the reproductive phase.

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.85 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Polygonatum sibiricum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root.

Rhizome

1. Journal of natural products
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Frontiers in microbiology
5. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Molecular medicine reports

Chemicals

Polygonatum sibiricum has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Flavonoids, Polysaccharide, PSP, Flavonoid.

Saponins

1. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Fitoterapia
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Flavonoids

1. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Polysaccharide

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Molecular medicine reports

PSP

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Nutrients
3. Molecular medicine reports

Flavonoid

1. PloS one
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

baicalein

1. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
2. Frontiers in chemistry

phloretin

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. PloS one

(+)-Syringaresinol O-beta-D-glucoside

1. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT

3'-Methoxydaidzein

1. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT

4',5-Dihydroxyflavone

1. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT

Activities

Polygonatum sibiricum has 8 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Molecular medicine reports

Neuroprotective

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antibacterial

1. Molecular medicine reports

Anticancer

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antidiabetic

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antihyperglycemic

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Antitumor

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Hepatoprotective

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Medicinal Uses

Polygonatum sibiricum has 34 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include weight loss, antioxidant, breast cancer, cancer, fatigue.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations