Polygonatum odoratum seed

LATIN NAME: POLYGONATUM ODORATUM

COMMON NAME: Fragrant Solomon Seal

The fragrant Solomon seal arches the graceful, curving stems with the oval, green leaves arranged in the two neat rows and the small, white, bell-shaped flowers that hang along the stem undersides through the late spring, the blue-black berries following. The whole plant carries the elegant, arching habit, and it moves gently in the breeze. The plant grows into the spreading clumps, and it stands the cold well. It likes the shade or the part shade, and the moist, leafy soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

In the asparagus family, the polygonatums have a long, quiet record in the studies of the woodland perennials, and the fragrant species appears in the research on the root chemistry and the shaded growth. The pharmacologists value the root preparations, while the horticulturists note the elegant, arching habit with the bells along the stems. The seed biology fills out the picture, and the growers of the shaded garden plants keep the species in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the shaded garden, the fragrant Solomon seal arches the bells over the late spring. The white bells hang along the graceful stems, the rhizomes have served the traditional preparations for the ages, the berries feed the birds, and the clumps spread calmly in the woodland soil. It grows well in the moist, leafy, shaded ground. Elegant, calm and quietly generous.

To grow the Fragrant Solomon Seal from seed,

Press the seeds into the gritty, leafy surface of the cold frame, then cover them lightly, keep the frame cool and moist, and the seedlings thread up within a few weeks

Keep the frame cool and shaded, and let the young plants settle slowly. The arching stems fill out by the second season.

. Settle the young plants in the shade and the moist, leafy ground, and the hanging bells will arch the late spring over the years.

Polygonatum odoratum
angular Solomon’s seal
scented Solomon’s seal
Medicinal use of Solomon’s Seal: A tea made from the roots is laxative. It has been used in the treatment of indigestion, profuse menstruation, lung ailments, general debility etc. It is a folk remedy for piles, rheumatism and skin irritations. A poultice or a decoction of the fresh roots is applied to cuts, bruises, sores etc.
Edible parts of Solomon’s Seal: Young shoots – raw or cooked. An excellent vegetable when boiled and used as an asparagus substitute. Root – cooked. The flavor is somewhat bitter, to counteract this the root is sliced crosswise, cooked in alkaline water and the water changed during the cooking process. When steamed and sun-dried nine times the root is delicious. The roots are rich in starch, this can be extracted by beating or grinding the dried root, the starch can then be used to make bread or can be mixed in other foods such as soups.
Other uses : The root has been burnt as an incense. It is said that when the root is burnt in the bedroom just before going to sleep, the person would sleep soundly and awaken refreshed, rested and feeling young.