Solomon’s Seal, False Solomon’s Seal

Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) and False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum) look alike at this stage - a positive ID will be possible later in the season when the two plants flower. The true Solomon’s Seal creates flowers and fruits all alongside the underside of the stem, whereas the “lookalike” produces flowers all clustered on the end of the stem. Thankfully, the two plants are similarly edible as asparagus-like shoots when they first emerge from the ground, and the rhizomes of each also have some properties in common: these herbs moistens the joints and connective tissue and are used after deep injury, bruising, or surgery.