The American Botanist 



VOL. XII, JOLIET, ILL., APRIL, 1907. No. 3 



SOLOMON'S SEAL. 



BY DR. W. W. BAILEY. LIBRARY 



NEW YOR 

 A number of distinct plants, but all of the Lily family, aregoTANiCA 



•**■ popularly known as Solomon's Seals. The confusion Qardbn. 



results from a common resemblance to each other in habit 



and leafage. It is, however, only the species of the genus 



Polygonatum to which the name properly applies. 



In these an elongated rootstock, more or less thickened, 

 is observed, marked at intervals by a circular scar denoting 

 where former ascending and leaf-bearing stems have stood. 

 These, as they fall, leave behind them this record of their 

 being. The scars bear a certain resemblance to a seal stamped 

 in wax, hence the name : and as in tradition and fairy tale, a 

 potent seal is attributed to King Solomon, this stamp is con- 

 sidered his. 



It will be recalled by lovers of the Arabian Nights that 

 Solomon's seal was enough, so long as it remained unbroken, 

 to confine the tremendous genie, who gave the fishermen so 

 bad a quarter of an hour. In our plants we observe that 

 the much married king, possessed seals of various sizes. Some 

 ^^•ere official, no doubt ; others reserved for his less serious, 

 but frequent correspondence. Polygonafiini gigaiifeiiin is his 

 Great Seal of State. So far, we have found it powerful 

 enough to ward off Blue Devils if not more potent demons. 



This larger species, from two to seven feet high, is 



cylindrical and smooth, usually somewhat recurved, giving it 



a very graceful habit. The alternate leaves, three to eight 

 inches long, are ovate and partly clasping, the upper ones 



i^oblong and sessile. All have prominent nerves, an entire 



^iiargin, and are more or less glaucous. In the axils of the 



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