30 FAMILIAR FLOWERS OF FIELD AND GARDEN. 



, „ , Solomon's seal is easily indentified, 

 Solomon's Seal. 



Poiygonatum as it grows beside some woodlaud 



biflor^m. ^^^^ -j^ gg^j.ly ]y[ay^ by its light green 



leaves, and its long, gracefully curved stalk, from which 



Solomon's Seal. 



depends on the under side a series of tiny, greenish 

 or creamy-white flowers always arranged in pairs. In 

 September the flowers are replaced by deep violet- 

 blue berries. The charm of Solomon's seal is the 

 graceful curve of its stalk ; its flowers are unattract- 

 ive, and are somewhat similar in form to winter- 

 green blossoms. The name had its origin in the 

 pitted appearance of the root, which bears a round 

 scar left by the broken-off old stalk ; this is so 

 unlike the impression of a seal in shiny red wax 

 that it requires the utmost stretch of imagina- 



