Starry Solomon's Plume (Maianthemum stellatum): white Minnesota wildflowers

Starry Solomon's Plume

Plant Info
Also known as:	Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-Valley
Scientific name:	Maianthemum stellatum
Family:	Lily (Liliaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun to part shade; moist meadows, edges of woods, shorelines
Bloom season:	last spring, early summer
Plant height:	12 to 30 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:: Spike cluster 1 to 4 inches long of up to 20 flowers. Each flower is about 3/8 inch across, has 6 tepals (petals) and 6 stamen with pale yellow or cream colored tips.
Leaves and stem:: Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 2 inches across, generally elliptical tapering to a point at the tip, and prominent parallel veins. The base of the leaf clasps the stem. The stem slightly zig-zags between the alternately attached leaves. The plant does not grow upright, but tilts to one side and arcs a bit at the top.
Fruit:: Each flower is replaced by a berry, about ¼ inch in diameter. Berries are initially green with purple stripes and ripen to solid reddish-purple.
Notes:: Just looking at the leaves, Smooth Solomon's Seal, False Solomon's Seal , and Starry Solomon's Plume are all very similar and can be hard to tell apart. False Solomon's Seal prefers shadier habitats, has more, smaller flowers, plus its leaves do not clasp the stem and are wider than Starry Solomon's Plume. Smooth Solomon's Seal has a raceme of flowers on the underside of the arcing stem, rather than a spike at the end.

More photos

More white wildflowers. Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, May-June 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: randy b.
on: 2008-06-18 22:11:35

I didnt know what this was but about 14 years ago I noticed the berries in the woods at Highland Park and collected a few and planted them on my boulevard. They reddish berries were very showy. They've been growing in front of my house ever since. Nice plant.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2008-06-20 18:16:00

Yes it is a nice plant, but I do want to mention that you shouldn't collect seeds, berries or flowers in the parks without permission. You may be fined if you're caught.