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''Polygonatum'' , also known as King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's seal, is a
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the
family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Asparagaceae Asparagaceae, known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, ''Asparagus officinalis''. Those who live in the temperate c ...
, subfamily
Nolinoideae Nolinoideae is a monocot subfamily of the family (biology), family Asparagaceae in the APG III system of 2009. It used to be treated as a separate family, Ruscaceae sensu lato, s.l. The family name is derived from the Binomial nomenclature, gener ...
(formerly the family Ruscaceae). It has also been classified in the former family Convallariaceae and, like many
lilioid monocot Lilioid monocots (lilioids, liliid monocots, petaloid monocots, petaloid lilioid monocots) is an informal name used for a grade (grouping of taxa with common characteristics) of five monocot orders (Petrosaviales, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Lili ...
s, was formerly classified in the lily family,
Liliaceae The lily family, Liliaceae, consists of about 15 genera and 610 species of flowering plants within the order Liliales. They are monocotyledonous, perennial, herbaceous, often bulbous geophytes. Plants in this family have evolved with a fair ...
. The genus is distributed throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Most of the approximately 63 species occur in Asia, with 20
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
.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 In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
. One explanation for the derivation of the common name "
Solomon Solomon (; , ),, ; ar, سُلَيْمَان, ', , ; el, Σολομών, ; la, Salomon also called Jedidiah (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Modern Hebrew, Modern: , Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: ''Yăḏīḏăyāh'', "beloved of Yahweh, Yah"), ...
's seal" is that the roots bear depressions which resemble royal
seals Seals may refer to: * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to impress an emblem, used as a means of a ...
. Another is that the cut roots resemble Hebrew characters.


Description

The fruits are red or black
berries A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...
.


Taxonomy


Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Polygonatum'': *''
Polygonatum acuminatifolium ''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 ha ...
'' *''
Polygonatum adnatum ''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 ha ...
'' *''
Polygonatum amabile ''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 ha ...
'' *''
Polygonatum angelicum ''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 ha ...
'' *''
Polygonatum annamense ''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 ...
'' *''
Polygonatum arisanense ''Polygonatum arisanense'' is a flowering plant within the Asparagaceae Asparagaceae, known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garde ...
'' *''
Polygonatum autumnale ''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 ha ...
'' *''
Polygonatum × azegamii ''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 ha ...
'' *''
Polygonatum biflorum ''Polygonatum biflorum'' (smooth Solomon's-seal, great Solomon's-seal, Solomon's seal) is an herbaceous flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosper ...
'' (including ''Polygonatum commutatum'') – Solomon's seal, smooth or great Solomon's seal – Eastern and central North America *''
Polygonatum brevistylum ''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 ha ...
'' *''
Polygonatum × buschianum ''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 ha ...
'' *'' 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 ''Polygonatum'' × ''hybridum'', the garden Solomon's-seal, is a hybrid flowering plant, which is a cross between common Solomon's-seal (''Polygonatum multiflorum'') and angular Solomon's-seal (''Polygonatum odoratum''). The plant tends to be m ...
'' – 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 ''Polygonatum multiflorum'', the Solomon's seal, David's harp, ladder-to-heaven or Eurasian Solomon's seal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Europe and temperate Asia. In Britain it is one of three native spec ...
'' – (common) Solomon's seal – Europe *'' Polygonatum nervulosum'' *'' Polygonatum nodosum'' *''
Polygonatum odoratum ''Polygonatum odoratum'' ( syn. ''P. officinale''), the angular Solomon's seal or scented Solomon's seal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, the Russian Far East, China, Mongolia ...
'' – 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 plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...
s, including: * ''
Polygonatum biflorum ''Polygonatum biflorum'' (smooth Solomon's-seal, great Solomon's-seal, Solomon's seal) is an herbaceous flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosper ...
* '' Polygonatum hirtum'' * '' Polygonatum hookeri'' * '' Polygonatum humile'' * ''Polygonatum'' × ''hybridum'' *''
Polygonatum multiflorum ''Polygonatum multiflorum'', the Solomon's seal, David's harp, ladder-to-heaven or Eurasian Solomon's seal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Europe and temperate Asia. In Britain it is one of three native spec ...
'' *''
Polygonatum odoratum ''Polygonatum odoratum'' ( syn. ''P. officinale''), the angular Solomon's seal or scented Solomon's seal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, the Russian Far East, China, Mongolia ...
'' *'' 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 A pig's trotter, also known as a pettitoe, or sometimes known as a pig's foot, is the culinary term for the foot of a pig. The cuts are used in various dishes around the world, and experienced a resurgence in the late 2000s. Description Pigs' ...
during festivals. The rhizomes are used to make
tea Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of '' Camellia sinensis'', an evergreen shrub native to East Asia which probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and northe ...
or soaked in
wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
or
liquor Liquor (or a spirit) is an alcoholic drink produced by distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar, that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. Other terms for liquor include: spirit drink, distilled beverage or hard ...
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 Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many culture ...
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 A famine food or poverty food is any inexpensive or readily available food used to nourish people in times of hunger and starvation, whether caused by extreme poverty, such as during economic depression or war, or by natural disasters such as ...
. The shoots of some ''Polygonatum'' can be boiled and used like
asparagus Asparagus, or garden asparagus, folk name sparrow grass, scientific name ''Asparagus officinalis'', is a perennial flowering plant species in the genus ''Asparagus''. Its young shoots are used as a spring vegetable. It was once classified in ...
. ''P. cirrifolium'' and ''P. verticillatum'' are used as leafy
vegetable Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, ...
s in
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. The American species ''P. biflorum'' has a starchy root that was eaten like the
potato The potato is a starchy food, a tuber of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'' and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern Unit ...
and used as flour for bread. ''P. sibiricum'' is used for a tea called ''dungulle'' in
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
.


Traditional medicine

The traditional use of ''Polygonatum'' in the treatment of
diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
was first observed in 1930 by Hedwig Langecker. After experiments, she concluded that it was effective in fighting nutritional
hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. This is generally a blood sugar level higher than 11.1 mmol/L (200  mg/dL), but symptoms may not start to become noticeable until even ...
, though not that caused by
adrenaline Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands and ...
release, probably due to its glucokinin content. ''P. verticillatum'' is used in
Ayurveda Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. The theory and practice of Ayurveda is pseudoscientific. Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population repo ...
as an
aphrodisiac An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs like cannabis or cocain ...
.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 Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies ...
called ''rhizoma polygonati'' is a mix of ''Polygonatum'' species used in
traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. It has been described as "fraught with pseudoscience", with the majority of its treatments having no logical mechanism of action ...
. 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 ''Maianthemum'' includes the former genus ''Smilacina'' and is a genus of perennial herbaceous flowering plants with fleshy, persistent rhizomes. It is widespread across much of North America, Europe and Asia, and may be terrestrial, aquatic or e ...
''


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q161152 Asparagaceae genera Edible plants Medicinal plants Dietary supplements Taxa named by Philip Miller