Polygonatum

Polygonatum , also known as King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's seal, is a genus of flowering plants. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). It has also been classified in the former family Convallariaceae and, like many lilioid monocots, was formerly classified in the lily family, Liliaceae. The genus is distributed throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Most of the approximately 63 species occur in Asia, with 20 endemic to China.
Etymology
Polygonatum comes from the ancient Greek for "many knees", referring to the multiple jointed rhizome. One explanation for the derivation of the common name "Solomon's seal" is that the roots bear depressions which resemble royal seals. Another is that the cut roots resemble Hebrew characters.
Description
The fruits are red or black berries. The berries may be poisonous to humans.
Taxonomy
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus Polygonatum:
Polygonatum acuminatifolium
Polygonatum adnatum
Polygonatum amabile
Polygonatum angelicum
Polygonatum annamense
Polygonatum arisanense
Polygonatum autumnale
Polygonatum × azegamii
Polygonatum biflorum (including Polygonatum commutatum) – Solomon's seal, smooth or great Solomon's seal – Eastern and central North America
Polygonatum brevistylum
Polygonatum × buschianum
Polygonatum campanulatum
Polygonatum cathcartii
Polygonatum cirrhifolium – tendril-leaf Solomon's seal – Southern China
Polygonatum costatum
Polygonatum cryptanthum
Polygonatum curvistylum
Polygonatum cyrtonema – Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
Polygonatum daminense
Polygonatum × desoulavyi
Polygonatum × domonense
Polygonatum falcatum – Eastern Asia
Polygonatum filipes
Polygonatum franchetii
Polygonatum geminiflorum
Polygonatum glaberrimum
Polygonatum gongshanense
Polygonatum govanianum
Polygonatum graminifolium
Polygonatum grandicaule
Polygonatum griffithii
Polygonatum hirtellum
Polygonatum hookeri
Polygonatum humile – dwarf Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
Polygonatum × hybridum – garden Solomon's seal – Europe
Polygonatum inflatum – Eastern Asia
Polygonatum infundiflorum
Polygonatum involucratum – Asia
Polygonatum jinzhaiense
Polygonatum kingianum – Solomon's seal – Asia
Polygonatum × krylovii
Polygonatum lasianthum – Korean Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
Polygonatum latifolium
Polygonatum leiboense
Polygonatum longistylum
Polygonatum luteoverrucosum
Polygonatum macranthum
Polygonatum macropodum – big footed Solomon's seal – Asia
Polygonatum megaphyllum
Polygonatum mengtzense
Polygonatum multiflorum – (common) Solomon's seal – Europe
Polygonatum nervulosum
Polygonatum nodosum
Polygonatum odoratum – scented (or angular) Solomon's seal – Europe
Polygonatum omeiense
Polygonatum oppositifolium
Polygonatum orientale – oriental Solomon's seal – Western Asia, Eastern Europe
Polygonatum prattii
Polygonatum × pseudopolyanthemum
Polygonatum pubescens – downy/hairy Solomon's seal – Eastern North America
Polygonatum punctatum
Polygonatum qinghaiense
Polygonatum robustum
Polygonatum roseum
Polygonatum sewerzowii
Polygonatum sibiricum – Huang Jing, Siberian Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
Polygonatum singalilense
Polygonatum sparsifolium
Polygonatum stenophyllum
Polygonatum stewartianum
Polygonatum × tamaense
Polygonatum tessellatum
Polygonatum tsinlingense
Polygonatum undulatifolium
Polygonatum urceolatum
Polygonatum verticillatum – whorled Solomon's seal – Europe
Polygonatum wardii
Polygonatum yunnanense
Polygonatum zanlanscianense
Polygonatum zhejiangensis
Uses
Gardening
Several species are valued as ornamental plants, including:
Polygonatum biflorum
Polygonatum hirtum Polygonatum hookeri Polygonatum humile Polygonatum × hybridumPolygonatum multiflorumPolygonatum odoratumPolygonatum stewartianumPolygonatum verticillatumFood
The berries may be poisonous to humans.
Many species have long been used as food in China, such as Polygonatum sibiricum. Leaves, stems, and rhizomes are used raw or cooked and served as a side dish with meat and rice. The rhizomes of two local species are eaten with chicken's or pig's feet during festivals. The rhizomes are used to make tea or soaked in wine or liquor to flavor the beverages. They are also fried with sugar and honey to make sweet snacks. The starchy rhizomes can be dried, ground, and added to flour to supplement food staples. The rhizome of P. sibiricum is pulped, boiled, strained, and thickened with barley flour to make a sweet liquid seasoning agent called tangxi. At times, people in China have relied on P. megaphyllum as a famine food.
The shoots of some Polygonatum can be boiled and used like asparagus. P. cirrifolium and P. verticillatum are used as leafy vegetables in India. The American species P. biflorum has a starchy root that was eaten like the potato and used as flour for bread.P. sibiricum is used for a tea called dungulle in Korea.
Traditional medicine
The berries may be poisonous to humans.
The traditional use of Polygonatum in the treatment of diabetes was first observed in 1930 by Hedwig Langecker. After experiments, she concluded that it was effective in fighting nutritional hyperglycemia, though not that caused by adrenaline release, probably due to its glucokinin content.P. verticillatum is used in Ayurveda as an aphrodisiac. It is also used to treat pain, fever, inflammation, allergy, and weakness.
An herbal remedy called rhizoma polygonati is a mix of Polygonatum species used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is supposed to strengthen various organs and enhance the qi. Polygonatum is believed to be restorative to mental vitality, especially when the mind has been overworked, overstressed, or is in a state of exhaustion.
See also
Maianthemum''
References
Asparagaceae genera
Edible plants
Medicinal plants
Dietary supplements
Taxa named by Philip Miller