Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Plumed Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Camas/Triteleia/Yucca family (Asparagaceae)

This plant goes by numerous common names including "Solomon's Plume." Its taller stature, wider leaves, and numerous tiny white flowers in a dense distinguish it from Starry Lily-of-the-valley Maianthemum stellatum. The two species often grow near each other. "Maianthemum" means "May Flower," "racemosum" describes the arrangement.


©2008 Walter Siegmund

Description

Leafy , 2-3' tall, with numerous tiny white flowers in a dense atop an erect or slightly bent stem. Alternate, long, broad leaves with pointed tips either clasp the stem or are held on short stalks. Later in the season, a head of light green-brown on red stems replaces the of white flowers.

Field Marks

Large white pyramidal flower cluster atop broad leaves with wavy edges.

© Al Schneider

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

The botanical term "berry" is different from common usage. Strawberries and raspberries are not berries. But a tomatoe is. A true berry is a fruit with the seeds immersed in the pulp.

A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. The bottom flowers in a panicle open first.

A raceme is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along its axis.

An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem.