Polygonatum

''Polygonatum'' , also known as King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's seal, is a genus of flowering plants. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). It has also been classified in the former family Convallariaceae and, like many lilioid monocots, was formerly classified in the lily family, Liliaceae. The genus is distributed throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Most of the approximately 63 species occur in Asia, with 20 endemic to China.Wujisguleng, W., et al. (2012)
Ethnobotanical review of food uses of ''Polygonatum'' (Convallariaceae) in China.
''Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae'' 81(4) 239-44.

Etymology

''Polygonatum'' comes from the ancient Greek for "many knees", referring to the multiple jointed rhizome. One explanation for the derivation of the common name "Solomon's seal" is that the roots bear depressions which resemble royal seals. Another is that the cut roots resemble Hebrew characters.

Description

The fruits are red or black berries.

Taxonomy

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Polygonatum'':

*''Polygonatum acuminatifolium''
*''Polygonatum adnatum''
*''Polygonatum amabile''
*''Polygonatum angelicum''
*''Polygonatum annamense''
*''Polygonatum arisanense''
*''Polygonatum autumnale''
*''Polygonatum × azegamii''
*''Polygonatum biflorum'' (including ''Polygonatum commutatum'') – Solomon's seal, smooth or great Solomon's seal – Eastern and central North America
*''Polygonatum brevistylum''
*''Polygonatum × buschianum''
*'' Polygonatum campanulatum''
*'' Polygonatum cathcartii''
*'' Polygonatum cirrhifolium'' – tendril-leaf Solomon's seal – Southern China
*'' Polygonatum costatum''
*'' Polygonatum cryptanthum''
*'' Polygonatum curvistylum''
*'' Polygonatum cyrtonema'' – Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
*'' Polygonatum daminense''
*'' Polygonatum × desoulavyi''
*'' Polygonatum × domonense''
*'' Polygonatum falcatum'' – Eastern Asia
*'' Polygonatum filipes''
*'' Polygonatum franchetii''
*'' Polygonatum geminiflorum''
*'' Polygonatum glaberrimum''
*'' Polygonatum gongshanense''
*'' Polygonatum govanianum''
*'' Polygonatum graminifolium''
*'' Polygonatum grandicaule''
*'' Polygonatum griffithii''
*'' Polygonatum hirtellum''
*'' Polygonatum hookeri''
*'' Polygonatum humile'' – dwarf Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
*''Polygonatum × hybridum'' – garden Solomon's seal – Europe
*'' Polygonatum inflatum'' – Eastern Asia
*'' Polygonatum infundiflorum''
*'' Polygonatum involucratum'' – Asia
*'' Polygonatum jinzhaiense''
*'' Polygonatum kingianum'' – Solomon's seal – Asia
*'' Polygonatum × krylovii''
*'' Polygonatum lasianthum'' – Korean Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
*'' Polygonatum latifolium''
*'' Polygonatum leiboense''
*'' Polygonatum longistylum''
*'' Polygonatum luteoverrucosum''
*'' Polygonatum macranthum''
*'' Polygonatum macropodum'' – big footed Solomon's seal – Asia
*'' Polygonatum megaphyllum''
*'' Polygonatum mengtzense''
*''Polygonatum multiflorum'' – (common) Solomon's seal – Europe
*'' Polygonatum nervulosum''
*'' Polygonatum nodosum''
*''Polygonatum odoratum'' – scented (or angular) Solomon's seal – Europe
*'' Polygonatum omeiense''
*'' Polygonatum oppositifolium''
*'' Polygonatum orientale'' – oriental Solomon's seal – Western Asia, Eastern Europe
*'' Polygonatum prattii''
*'' Polygonatum × pseudopolyanthemum''
*'' Polygonatum pubescens'' – downy/hairy Solomon's seal – Eastern North America
*'' Polygonatum punctatum''
*'' Polygonatum qinghaiense''
*'' Polygonatum robustum''
*'' Polygonatum roseum''
*'' Polygonatum sewerzowii''
*'' Polygonatum sibiricum'' – Huang Jing, Siberian Solomon's seal – Eastern Asia
*'' Polygonatum singalilense''
*'' Polygonatum sparsifolium''
*'' Polygonatum stenophyllum''
*'' Polygonatum stewartianum''
*'' Polygonatum × tamaense''
*'' Polygonatum tessellatum''
*'' Polygonatum tsinlingense''
*'' Polygonatum undulatifolium''
*'' Polygonatum urceolatum''
*'' Polygonatum verticillatum'' – whorled Solomon's seal – Europe
*'' Polygonatum wardii''
*'' Polygonatum yunnanense''
*'' Polygonatum zanlanscianense''
*'' Polygonatum zhejiangensis''

Uses

Gardening

Several species are valued as ornamental plants, including:

* ''Polygonatum biflorum
* '' Polygonatum hirtum''
* '' Polygonatum hookeri''
* '' Polygonatum humile''
* ''Polygonatum'' × ''hybridum''
*''Polygonatum multiflorum''
*''Polygonatum odoratum''
*'' Polygonatum stewartianum''
*'' Polygonatum verticillatum''

Food

Many species have long been used as food in China, such as ''Polygonatum sibiricum''. Leaves, stems, and rhizomes are used raw or cooked and served as a side dish with meat and rice. The rhizomes of two local species are eaten with chicken's or pig's feet during festivals. The rhizomes are used to make tea or soaked in wine or liquor to flavor the beverages. They are also fried with sugar and honey to make sweet snacks. The starchy rhizomes can be dried, ground, and added to flour to supplement food staples. The rhizome of ''P. sibiricum'' is pulped, boiled, strained, and thickened with barley flour to make a sweet liquid seasoning agent called ''tangxi''. At times, people in China have relied on ''P. megaphyllum'' as a famine food.

The shoots of some ''Polygonatum'' can be boiled and used like asparagus. ''P. cirrifolium'' and ''P. verticillatum'' are used as leafy vegetables in India. The American species ''P. biflorum'' has a starchy root that was eaten like the potato and used as flour for bread.

''P. sibiricum'' is used for a tea called ''dungulle'' in Korea.

Traditional medicine

The traditional use of ''Polygonatum'' in the treatment of diabetes was first observed in 1930 by Hedwig Langecker. After experiments, she concluded that it was effective in fighting nutritional hyperglycemia, though not that caused by adrenaline release, probably due to its glucokinin content.

''P. verticillatum'' is used in Ayurveda as an aphrodisiac.Kasmi, I., et al. (2012)
Aphrodisiac properties of ''Polygonatum verticillatum'' leaf extract.
''Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease'' S841-45. It is also used to treat pain, fever, inflammation, allergy, and weakness.Khan, H., et al. (2011)
Antinociceptive activity of aerial parts of ''Polygonatum verticillatum'': Attenuation of both peripheral and central pain mediators.
''Phytotherapy Research'' 25(7) 1024-30.

An herbal remedy called ''rhizoma polygonati'' is a mix of ''Polygonatum'' species used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is supposed to strengthen various organs and enhance the '' qi''. Polygonatum is believed to be restorative to mental vitality, especially when the mind has been overworked, overstressed, or is in a state of exhaustion.

See also

* ''Maianthemum''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q161152

Asparagaceae genera
Edible plants
Medicinal plants
Dietary supplements
Taxa named by Philip Miller