Large false Solomon’s-seal, false spikenard, Solomon’s-plume

Convallaria racemosa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 315. 1753; Smilacina racemosa (Linnaeus) Desfontaines; Unifolium racemosum (Linnaeus) Britton

Plants terrestrial, to 12.5 cm. Rhizomes sympodial, cylindrical, units 30–40 cm × 8–14 mm, sometimes multiplied, roots scattered. Stems erect or arching, 7.5–12.5 dm × 7–9 mm. Leaves 7–12, sessile and clasping, or petiolate; blade elliptic to ovate, 9–17 × 5–8 cm; base rounded or tapered; apex acute or caudate. Inflorescences paniculate, 70–250-flowered, branches well developed, pyramidal. Flowers 3-merous; tepals inconspicuous, 0.5–1 × 0.5 mm; filaments 1 × 0.5 mm; anthers 0.5–1 mm; ovary globose, 1 mm wide; style 0.1–0.3 mm; stigma obscure; pedicel 0.5–1 × 0.5 mm. Berries green with copper spots when young, maturing to deep translucent red, globose or 3-lobed, 4–6 mm wide. Seeds 1–4, globose, 2.5–4 mm. 2n = 36, 72, 144.

Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora): North America, n Mexico.

Maianthemum racemosum is sometimes cultivated. It was described as apomictic (A. L. Gorham 1953) but is much in need of cytogeographic and reproductive biological studies.