Whorled Solomon's seal

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Whorled Solomon's seal
• Whorled Solomon's-Seal
• Mahameda

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polygonatum verticillatum subsp. stellifolium
• Polygonatum erythrocarpum
• Polygonatum verticillatum f. alternifolium
• Polygonatum verticillatum f. microphyllum
• Troxilanthes angustifolia
• Convallaria leptophylla
• Convallaria stellifolia
• Sigillum verticillatum
• Convallaria verticillata
• Polygonatum verticillatum var. gracile
• Polygonatum minutiflorum
• Polygonatum kansuense
• Polygonatum leptophyllum
• Polygonatum jacquemontianum
• Polygonatum macrophyllum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Polygonatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide range of distribution across several distinct European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can also be found growing throughout the landscapes of Great Britain. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is located in Middle Europe. Specifically, its range extends into the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Polygonatum verticillatum is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it thrives under the canopy of woodland ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, typically occurring at elevations ranging from a minimum of 1,500 m AMSL to a maximum of 4,700 m AMSL. Within this expansive vertical range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2,825 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to various montane and subalpine environmental conditions.

Elevational range max:

4700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2825 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Polygonatum verticillatum is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its survival across multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, utilizing specialized underground structures to persist through unfavorable conditions, which aligns with its classification as a cryptophyte. As a deciduous species, the plant undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually, retreating into its subterranean storage organs during the dormant period before emerging again in the spring.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Polygonatum verticillatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as a vine or liana. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.42 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.42 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Polygonatum verticillatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many shade-tolerant forest floor species. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional mode, relying entirely on autotrophic processes for carbon fixation. Its foliage displays significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining an average length of 8 cm. The width of the leaves is similarly variable, spanning from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, which contributes to a mean leaf size of approximately 10.03 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 422.3 cm²/g, a physiological indicator that reflects its leaf mass per area and its adaptation to its specific ecological niche and light availability.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf size mean:

10.03 cm²

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

422.3 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Polygonatum verticillatum is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically begins in May and concludes in June. The pollination process is biotic, primarily relying on an insect-based syndrome, with bees identified as a key pollinator. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive cycle is strictly sexual, as asexual reproduction is absent. Following fertilization, the plant develops indehiscent fruits categorized as berries. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.73 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm) and a mean width of 0.8 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to 0.9 cm). Within these berries, the seeds possess a mean mass of approximately 0.039358 g, although data indicates a minimum and maximum seed mass of 0.0296 g. Dispersal of the offspring is achieved through zoochorous methods, utilizing animals to spread the seeds, as well as through autochorous mechanisms.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.73 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.9 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.8 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0296 g

Seed mass mean:

0.039358 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Polygonatum verticillatum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, fruit, leaf.

Rhizome

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Toxicology and industrial health

Fruit

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Leaf

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Chemicals

Polygonatum verticillatum has 31 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Hydroxybenzoic acid, Antioxidants, Ash, Asparaginic acid, CA.

2-Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antioxidants

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Ash

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Asparaginic acid

1. Ukrainskii biokhimicheskii zhurnal (1978)

CA

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

CD

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

CO

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

CR

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

CU

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

DIOSGENIN

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Activities

Polygonatum verticillatum has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Appetite-Suppressant, Energizer, Tonic.

Antioxidant

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
2. Environmental monitoring and assessment

Antispasmodic

1. Toxicology and industrial health

Appetite-Suppressant

1. Current drug discovery technologies

Energizer

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Tonic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Tracheorelaxant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Medicinal Uses

Polygonatum verticillatum has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include DNA damage, appetite, diarrhea, edema, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations