Scientific Name
Polygonatum spp.
Common Name
Solomon's seal

CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Liliaceae
Plant Description
Perennial herb with erect or arching, unbranched stem; leaves alternate, simple, in one plane; flowers white, bell-shaped, 6-parted, 1-2 hanging in the leaf axils; berry blue-black.
Origin
USA, NC
Distribution
Throughout.
Where Found
Forest and natural areas in rich woods; landscape in flower garden as cultivated ornamental herbaceous perennial.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Berries.
Symptoms
Vomiting, diarrhea.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Young shoots can be boiled for 10 minutes and served like asparagus. Whole shoots can be cut up and put into salads. The rootstocks can be added to stew or boiled for 20 minutes and eaten like potatoes. SOURCE: Peterson, L. 1978. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 330 pp.
Toxic Principle
Anthraquinone.
Severity
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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