Polygonatum biflorum
(Walt.) Ell.
Common Solomon's-seal
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.161532
Element CodePMLIL1Q010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderAsparagales
FamilyAsparagaceae
GenusPolygonatum
Other Common Names
Sceau-de-Salomon biflore (FR) smooth Solomon's seal (EN) Smooth Solomon's-seal (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
This record is for the narrow treatment of Polygonatum biflorum, excluding P. cobrense as a distinct species, as recognized in Kartesz (1994, 1999). Utech in FNA (2002, vol. 26) recognizes a broader treatment that includes P. cobrense and does not recognize distinct varieties in P. biflorum.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-19
Change Date1984-06-25
Edition Date2024-06-19
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Polygonatum biflorum is a wide-ranging perennial herb in woods and along roadsides occurring from Quebec west to Saskatchewan in Canada south to Florida west to Texas in the United States and northeastern Mexico. Additional research is needed to delimit variation within this polyploid complex. Threats include development, rights-of-way maintenance activities, logging, recreational activities, deer browse, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Polygonatum biflorum occurs from Quebec west to Saskatchewan in Canada south to Florida west to Texas in the United States and northeastern Mexico (FNA 2002, Kartesz 1994). See individual entries for distribution details about several recognized varieties. Range extent was estimated to be over 5 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are thousands of occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance activities, logging, recreational activities, deer browse, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Polygonatum biflorum grows in "dry to moist deciduous woods, in sandy soil, roadsides, railway embankments, old fields" (FNA 2002).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedOld field
Other Nations (2)
CanadaNNR
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | SNR | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | SNA | No |
| Saskatchewan | SNR | Yes |
| Ontario | SNR | Yes |
United StatesN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | SNR | Yes |
| Ohio | SNR | Yes |
| Alabama | SNR | Yes |
| Georgia | SNR | Yes |
| Kentucky | SNR | Yes |
| New Hampshire | SNR | Yes |
| Maryland | SNR | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | S5 | Yes |
| Illinois | SNR | Yes |
| Tennessee | SNR | Yes |
| South Carolina | SNR | Yes |
| Texas | S3 | Yes |
| District of Columbia | S5 | Yes |
| Maine | SNR | Yes |
| Rhode Island | SNR | Yes |
| Wisconsin | SNR | Yes |
| Kansas | SNR | Yes |
| Connecticut | SNR | Yes |
| Nebraska | SNR | Yes |
| Massachusetts | SNR | Yes |
| Vermont | S1 | Yes |
| Virginia | S5 | Yes |
| Michigan | SNR | Yes |
| Montana | SNR | Yes |
| Louisiana | SNR | Yes |
| Iowa | S5 | Yes |
| Minnesota | SNR | Yes |
| New Mexico | SNR | Yes |
| Arkansas | SNR | Yes |
| Indiana | S5 | Yes |
| South Dakota | SNR | Yes |
| Wyoming | SNR | Yes |
| Missouri | SNR | Yes |
| New Jersey | SNR | Yes |
| West Virginia | S5 | Yes |
| Oklahoma | SNR | Yes |
| Florida | S3 | Yes |
| New York | S5 | Yes |
| Delaware | S5 | Yes |
| North Carolina | S5 | Yes |
| North Dakota | SNR | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown/undetermined | — | — | — |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (70)
Arkansas (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Brush Heap | Ouachita National Forest | 4,205 |
| Richland Creek | Ozark-St. Francis National Forest | 571 |
Georgia (9)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Big Mountain | Chattahoochee National Forest | 1,974 |
| Boggs Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 2,073 |
| Cedar Mountain | Chattahoochee National Forest | 1,083 |
| Ellicott Rock Addition | Chattahoochee National Forest | 690 |
| Helton Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 2,348 |
| Kelly Ridge | Chattahoochee National Forest | 8,325 |
| Lance Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 9,025 |
| Pink Knob | Chattahoochee National Forest | 12,127 |
| Sarah's Creek | Chattahoochee National Forest | 6,888 |
Illinois (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Ripple Hollow | Shawnee National Forest | 3,788 |
Kentucky (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Wolfpen | Daniel Boone National Forest | 2,835 |
New Mexico (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive Area | Gila National Forest | 79,049 |
| Hell Hole | Gila National Forest | 19,553 |
North Carolina (18)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 11,085 |
| Balsam Cone | Pisgah National Forest | 10,591 |
| Cheoah Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 7,795 |
| Chunky Gal (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 3,336 |
| Craggy Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 2,657 |
| Harper Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,325 |
| Jarrett Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 7,485 |
| Laurel Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 5,683 |
| Linville Gorge Addition | Pisgah National Forest | 2,809 |
| Little Indian (addition) | Nantahala National Forest | 640 |
| Lost Cove | Pisgah National Forest | 5,944 |
| Mackey Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 5,934 |
| Overflow Creek | Nantahala National Forest | 3,379 |
| Snowbird | Nantahala National Forest | 8,489 |
| Wesser Bald | Nantahala National Forest | 4,061 |
| Wilson Creek | Pisgah National Forest | 4,863 |
| Woods Mountain | Pisgah National Forest | 9,602 |
| Yellowhammer Branch (add.) | Nantahala National Forest | 1,255 |
South Carolina (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Big Mountain | Sumter National Forest | 2,337 |
| Ellicott Rock 2 | Sumter National Forest | 517 |
Tennessee (6)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mountain | Cherokee National Forest | 11,743 |
| Bald River Gorge Addition | Cherokee National Forest | 1,728 |
| Brushy Ridge | Cherokee National Forest | 7,469 |
| Flint Mill Gap | Cherokee National Forest | 9,494 |
| Sampson Mountain Addition | Cherokee National Forest | 3,064 |
| Sycamore Creek | Cherokee National Forest | 6,984 |
Virginia (22)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Adams Peak | George Washington National Forest | 7,135 |
| Bear Creek | Jefferson National Forest | 18,274 |
| Beards Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 7,505 |
| Beaver Dam Creek | Jefferson National Forest | 1,135 |
| Crawford Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 9,892 |
| Elliott Knob | George Washington National Forest | 9,380 |
| Gum Run | George Washington National Forest | 12,620 |
| Jerkemtight | George Washington National Forest | 16,687 |
| Kelley Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 7,590 |
| Little River | George Washington National Forest | 27,292 |
| Little Walker Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 9,818 |
| Mill Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 10,840 |
| Mt. Pleasant | George Washington National Forest | 8,933 |
| North Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 8,377 |
| Northern Massanutten | George Washington National Forest | 9,444 |
| Oliver Mountain | George Washington National Forest | 13,090 |
| Peters Mountain Addition A (VA) | Jefferson National Forest | 1,268 |
| Ramseys Draft Addition | George Washington National Forest | 12,781 |
| Seng Mountain | Jefferson National Forest | 6,428 |
| Skidmore | George Washington National Forest | 5,641 |
| Southern Massanutten | George Washington National Forest | 11,985 |
| The Priest | George Washington National Forest | 5,737 |
West Virginia (7)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Dry River (WV) | George Washington National Forest | 7,331 |
| Falls Of Hills Creek | Monongahela National Forest | 6,925 |
| Little Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 8,172 |
| Mcgowan Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 10,504 |
| Middle Mountain | Monongahela National Forest | 19,020 |
| North Mountain Hopeville | Monongahela National Forest | 6,525 |
| Peters Mountain Addition A (WV) | Jefferson National Forest | 343 |
References (7)
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
- iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
- Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
- Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
- NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
- Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).