Feathery False Solomon's Seal

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Feathery False Solomon's Seal (Feathery False Lily Of The Valley)
Smilacina racemosa (Maianthemum racemosum) [C-value 3]
Lily family (Liliaceae)
Blooms May - mid-June

The native Feathery False Solomon's Seal is common in our rich woodlands. It prefers light shade to partial sun and moist to slightly moist loamy soil with abundant organic material. This woodland perennial is unbranched and up to 2½' tall. The central stem is green to light green and sometimes zigzags between the alternate leaves. The leaves are up to 6" long and 3" across, broadly oval-shaped and untoothed. The central stem terminates in a panicle of 20-80 white flowers, about 4" long and 2" across. Each tiny flower is about 1/6" across, consisting of 6 tepals and 6 stamens. Each flower is later replaced by a berry about ¼" across and globular that becomes bright red, or red and purple-striped at maturity.

Feathery False Solomon's Seal at Hoover Forest Preserve May 24, 2013

Feathery False Solomon's Seal at Lyon Forest Preserve May 25, 2017

Feathery False Solomon's Seal seed head at Richard Young Forest Preserve July 4, 2013

False Solomon Seal seed head at Lyon Forest Preserve September 13, 2014

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