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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Starry False-Solomon's-seal
Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Lily (Liliaceae)
Flowering: April-June
Field Marks: This species has several leaves up to 2 1/2 inches wide and a small terminal raceme of white flowers with 6 sepals and petals 1/4-1/3 inch long.
Habitat: Moist areas.
Habit: Perennial herb with a rhizome.
Stems: Upright, unbranched, sometimes zigzag, up to 2 1/4 feet tall, smooth or minutely hairy.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, up to 6 inches long, up to 2 1/4 inches wide, pointed at the tip, rounded and sometimes clasping the stem at the base, minutely hairy on the lower surface, with several conspicuous veins.
Flowers: Several, not crowded in a terminal raceme up to 4 inches long.
Sepals and Petals: 6, similar, white, free from each other, oblong.
Stamens: 6.
Pistils: Ovary superior, smooth.
Fruits: Berries spherical, greenish yellow to reddish purple to black, 1/3-1/2 inch in diameter, with 2-3 seeds.
Notes: Several species of birds and mammals eat the berries of this species.

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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:25:34 EST
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