POLYGONA TUM MULTIFLO'RUM. 
MANY-FLOWERED SOLOMON’S SEAL. 
Class. Order. 
HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA . 
Natural Order. 
SMILACEAE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Native of 
Britain. 
2 feet. 
May, June. 
Perennial. 
Woods. 
No. 255. 
The Greek word polus, signifying many; and 
gonu, a knee or joint; are here compounded to 
form an appellation indicating a plant with numerous 
joints or articulations. 
The common name, Solomon’s Seal, arose out of a 
fancy that the root, when cut transversely, repre- 
sented the impression of a seal ; or, which is far more 
probable, from the reputed virtue of the root in seal- 
ing or healing up wounds. 
The genus Convallaria, as framed by Linneus, has 
lately been divided and its species given principally 
to Polygonatum and Smilacina, leaving the Lily of 
the Valley sole occupant of the original title. 
It is a plant admirably adapted to the filling up a 
damp and shady corner, where but few others will 
thrive. Its virtues, also, should not be lost sight of. 
Gerard writes, not very gallantly, that the bruised 
roots take away 4 4 blacke or blew spots gotten by fals, 
or women’s wilfulness in stumbling vpon their hastie 
husbands’ fists, or such like.” 
It merely requires planting in a shady situation ; 
and for increase, the roots may be divided in spring 
or autumn. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 2, 280. 
