STAR SOLOMONPLUME 
Vagnera stellata (Linnaeus) Morong 
Stat solomonplume loves moist rich woods. In its habit of growth 
and in the appearance of the flowers it recalls vaguely the lily-ofthe- 
valley. By theit rootstocks the plants spread widely, forming extensive 
patches in the woodlands. The rootstocks show no ttace of the seal- 
like scats so characteristic of the solomonseals. The plant is graceful 
in form, and beautiful when in either flower or fruit. It belongs to the 
Lily-of-the-valley Family, which includes asparagus, lily-of-the-valley, 
and metrybells. The fruit is a small globular berry, at first green, with 
three dark vertical stripes, but turning black when quite ripe. Some 
botanists use the name Swmilacina stellata for this plant. 
Star solomonplume ranges from Virginia to New Mexico and 
California, and northward to Newfoundland and Alaska. It grows also 
in northern Europe. 
The specimen sketched was obtained at Lake Minnewonka, neat 
~ Banff, Alberta, Canada, at an altitude of 4,500 feet. 
PLATE 166 
