False Solomon’s Seal, Maianthemum racemosum (Smilacina racemosa

False Solomon’s Seal, also called Solomon’s plume and feathery false lily of the valley, is a flowering plant that grows across continental North America. It is a useful plant, but often gets overlooked in favor of more versatile plants. I recommend you get familiar with this plant since it grows almost everywhere. It has been moved from the Lily Family to the Asparagus Family. Note that this is a different plant than true Solomon’s Seal. You can easily tell them apart when flowering as False Solomon’s Seal has terminal feathery flower clusters with red berries while Solomon’s Seal carries their bell-shaped flowers and dark blue berries on the underside of their stem. It likes moist forests.

Identification: False Solomon’s seal grows up to 3 feet (0.9m) tall from underground rhizomes, producing single unbranched arching stems with large leaves that are up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and half as wide. They have smooth margins and parallel veins. The stem is green, softly hairy and, when in flower, ends in a cluster of feathery white flowers. Each flower has 6 tepals, 6 stamens, a pistil, and short style. Their small star-shaped flowers appear in mid-spring. The flowers produce round, green fruits that turn red or red and purple-striped when mature. Each berry has a few seeds. Edible Use: The fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They have a bitter-sweet flavor and are a good source of vitamin C. Eat in small quantities only, larger amounts have a laxative effect. Young shoots are eaten raw or cooked as a green vegetable. The roots are eaten cooked. Soak the root first in water, change the water and cook. Eat like potatoes. Medical Use: False Solomon’s seal root is used medicinally for a variety of problems. The roots and leaves of False Solomon’s seal are used to make tincture, salve, tea, or capsules. It is a lubricating plant and the rhizomes contain saponins. Sore Throats and Oral Irritations: A strong root tea is valuable for sore throats and other mouth irritations. Try the root tea double in strength and use it to gargle several times a day until all irritation is gone. Coughs: Make an infusion of leaves as a cough remedy. Sweeten with raw honey for extra soothing power. Congestion: For bronchial congestion, try breathing in the steam while making a root decoction. Then use the decoction internally to treat symptoms.

Regulating the Menstrual Cycle and Hor-

monal Swings: False Solomon’s Seal Root Tea or Root Tincture is used to regulate the menstrual cycle, to relieve symptoms of menstrual disorders, and help with swings in hormone levels. Stomach Complaints: An infusion of the root is used to relieve stomach pain and soothe the digestive system. Stop Bleeding and Treat Wounds: Use a poultice from the crushed leaves or root and apply it to wounds, scrapes, rashes, cuts, burns, and insect bites. Its anti-inflammatory nature reduces the irritation in the area and soothes the skin. Dried powdered root