THE LILY FAMILY 
179 
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Very rare. On sandy sea-coasts ; Kynance Cove, Anglesey, Glamorganshire, and Pembrokeshire, 
and in Ireland in Waterford. July — August. Perennial. 
III. SOLOMON’S SEAL. (POLYGONATUM. Hill.)— Flowers greenish-white in the British 
species, drooping, on short stalks, solitary or several together in the axils of the leaves. Perianth 
of 6 lobes, united into a long tube and separating into 6 short lobes, inserted below the seedcase 
(inferior) ; stamens 6, included in the perianth-tube, on the middle of which they are inserted ; 
carpels 3, united into a 3-celled seedcase, a long slender style, and a pin-head-like, faintly 3-lobed 
stigma ; fruit a 3-celled berry with 1 or 2 seeds in each cell. Herbs with an unbranched erect or 
arching stem, stalkless entire leaves with parallel veins, and thick creeping roots. 
(1) Whorled-leaved Solomon’s Seal. (Polygonatum verticillatum.) — Stem erect, leaves 3-7 in 
whorls ; berries red. 
(2) Common Solomon’s Seal. (Polygonatum multiflorum.) — Flowers 2-5 together, filaments 
hairy ; leaves alternate ; berries black. 
(3) Angular-stemmed Solomon’s Seal. (Polygonatum officinale.) — Flowers usually solitary, 
filaments smooth ; leaves alternate ; berries black. 
1. Whorled-leaved Solomon’s Seal. (Polygondtum vertieilldtum. All.)— As just 
described. The flowers are about § inch long, greenish-white, 1-3 drooping on a stalk in the 
axils of the leaves ; the berries are red ; the stem is erect, 2-3 feet high ; the leaves are stalkless 
(sessile), narrowly lance-shaped, 3-7 in circles (whorls) round the stem ; and the root is thick and 
creeping. 
Very rare. In woods ; in Northumberland and Perthshire. June — July. Perennial. 
2. Common Solomon’s Seal. (Polygondtum multiflorum. All.)— A similar plant 
with 2-5 greenish-white drooping flowers, with hairy filaments, in clusters in the axils of the 
alternate, broadly oblong, half-clasping, stalkless (sessile) leaves, on a drooping round stem 1-2 feet 
high. The berries are blue-black. 
Rare. In woods ; widely but sparingly distributed in England, not a native in Scotland or 
Ireland. May — June. Perennial. 
3. Angular-stemmed Solomon’s Seal. (Polygondtum offieindle. All.)— A very 
similar plant to the last, the Common Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), with usually 
solitary rather larger flowers, about 1 inch long, with smooth filaments, in the axils of the alternate 
broadly oblong half-clasping leaves, on an angular drooping stem seldom more than 1 foot high. 
\PIate 58. 
Rare. In woods ; in various parts of England. May — June. Perennial. 
IV. MAY-LILY. (MAIAN'THEMUM. Weber.) — Flowers small, white, sweet scented, in a 
terminal cluster. Perianth of 4 lobes in the only British species, generally of 6 lobes, free or only 
united at the base, inserted below the seedcase (inferior) ; stamens 4 in the British species, 
as many as the perianth-lobes, and inserted on their base ; carpels 3 or 2, united into a 3- or 
2-celled seedcase, 1 short thick style, and a faintly 3- or 2-lobed stigma ; fruit a 1- or 2-seeded 
berry. Herbs with alternate parallel-veined leaves and creeping roots. 
Two-leaved May-Lily. (Maian'themum bifolium. Schmidt.)— As just described. 
The flowers are small, white, and fragrant, in a spike-like cluster terminating the stem, which is 
unbranched and is 3-8 inches high, bearing 2 alternate heart-shaped (cordate) pointed leaves. 
(. Maianthemum Convallaria. Web. ; Smilacina bifolia. Desf.) \Plate 58. 
