Species: Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum (J.A. & J.H. Schultes) Morong

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Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum (J.A. & J.H. Schultes) Morong

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Liliaceae

Genus:

Polygonatum

Species Synonyms:

Polygonatum canaliculatum auct. non (Muhl. ex Willd.) Pursh
Polygonatum commutatum (J.A. & J.H. Schultes) A. Dietr.
Convallaria biflora Walt. p.p.

Common Names:

King Solomon’s-seal
smooth Solomon’s-seal
great Solomon’s-seal
common Solomon’s-seal

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southeastern Saskatchewan – southern Manitoba – southwestern Quebec

Saskatchewan:

southeastern Saskatchewan; Souris River Valley

Ecoregion:

Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

moist, rich riparian woods

Associated Species:

American elm, Assiniboia sedge, false Solomon’s-seal, green ash, long-beak sedge, Manitoba maple, smooth carrionflower

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

King Solomon’s-seal is endangered because it is rare or uncommon and is restricted to southwestern Saskatchewan. This species is almost always locally sparse. Probable threats have been identified for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

50 – 200 cm

Roots:

rhizomes 1 – 3 cm thick

Stems:

erect to arching

Leaves:

alternate, sessile to clasping, 9 – 20 cm long, 3 – 9 cm wide, narrowly lance-shaped to broadly elliptic, hairless, prominent veins 1 – 19

Inflorescence:

axillary, 2 – 10-flowered; flower stalks flattened

Flowers:

tepal tube 17 – 25 mm long, distinct tips slightly spreading, whitish to greenish-yellow; stamens inserted near the middle of the perianth tube

Fruits:

berries 8 – 12 mm

LILIACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Leaves whitish, reduced to scales, photosynthetic parts branched with needle-like segments; flowers axillary	Asparagus
1 Leaves green, not reduced to scales; flowers terminal or axillary	2

2 At least some leaves whorled, occasionally upper or lowermost alternate or opposite; flowers large	3
2 Leaves all alternate or basal; flowers small	4

3 Leaves oval to diamond-shaped	Trillium
3 Leaves linear to broadly lance-shaped	Lilium

4 Leaves linear to narrowly lance-shaped, many times longer than wide; fruit dry	5
4 Leaves lance-shaped to ovate, only a few times longer than wide; fruit fleshy	8

5 Flowers in umbrella-like clusters; plants with an onion odour	Allium
5 Flowers in unbranched clusters; plants lacking an onion odour

6 Leaves with flat part of blade turned towards stem; bulbs present; tepals segments at least 6 mm long	Zigadenus
6 Leaves with edges turned towards stem; rootstocks present; tepals < 5 mm long	7

7 Stems smooth; flower stalks solitary; seeds without a tail-like appendage	Tofieldia
7 Stems glandular-hairy; flower stalks in clusters of 2 or 3; seeds with a tail-like appendage	Triantha

8 Leaves basal, with few on stem, reduced upwards, grass-like	Hypoxis
8 Leaves on the stem, usually without basal leaves, wider	9

9 Flowers axillary, greenish-white	10
9 Flowers terminal on stems or branches, yellow, whitish, or greenish-yellow	11

10 Tepals fused to form a tube; flowers 2 or more	Polygonatum
10 Tepals distinct; flowers 1 or 2	Streptopus

11 Stems simple; ovary with nectaries	Maianthemum
11 Stems branched distally; ovary lacking nectaries	Prosartes (formerly Disporum)