false solomon’s seals

(mayflowers and false solomon's seals)
genus Maianthemum

Member of dragon tree subfamily (subfamily Nolinoideae)
asparagus family (family Asparagaceae)
monocots (class Liliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in California.

This genus was split off from the “true” solomon’s seals (Polygonatum spp.), which are not found in California.

See also the american fairybells (genus Prosartes), which have a thinner, branched, woody stem.

Key features:

4 or 6 perianth parts
perianth > stamens or ≪ stamens
leaves with or without petioles

western solomon’s plume
Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule

western solomon’s plume
Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule

perianth parts 6
inflorescence is a panicle

i.e. flowers are on a pedicel off of a branch off the peduncle
> 20 flowers per inflorescence

perianth 1–2 mm, ≪ stamens
fruit tan with red speckles (possibly with a greenish stripe without speckles) or bright red
leaf 7–20 cm, ovate to oblong-elliptic

most leaves are curled lengthwise at the leaf base to clasp the twig

common

star-flowered lily-of-the-valley
Maianthemum stellatum

star-flowered lily-of-the-valley
Maianthemum stellatum

perianth parts 6
inflorescence is a raceme (or few-branched near base)

i.e. flowers are on pedicel directly off the peduncle
5–15 flowers per inflorescence

perianth 4–7 mm, > stamens
fruit tan with red speckles and bold dark purple stripes or bright red
leaf 5–17 cm, (ob)lanceolate to elliptic

leaves clasp the twig weakly, not curled at the base

common

western lily of the valley
Maianthemum dilatatum

perianth parts 4
inflorescence is a raceme
10–50 flowers per inflorescence
2–3 leaves, 5–20 cm, cordate to sagittate; petioles 5–15 cm
San Bruno, Marin, Mt. Tam

2 observed taxons / 1 unobserved taxon / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 80 (77 are research grade)

Locations:

Months:

Feb.: 1
Mar.: 13
Apr.: 11
May: 19
Jun.: 7
Jul.: 9
Aug.: 9
Sep.: 10
Oct.: 0
Nov.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora