Hairy Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum pubescens)
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Hairy Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum pubescens)
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(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 01) The identification of hairy Solomon's seal can be a little difficult without a magnifying glass to clearly see the minute hairs growing along the veins on the underside of the leaves. These hairs are the only distinguishing feature to identify this species from smooth Solomon's seal, Polygonatum biflorum. The classic arching plume with alternating elliptical-oval leaves is the main feature that helps identify all Solomon's seal species.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 01a) The next thing to do in identifying the smooth Solomon's seal is to look at the end of the stem. If there is a fruit or a flower cluster, it is a false Solomon's seal. Smooth Solomon's seal looks like it has a terminal leaf, which moves to the side as additional leaves sprout from the end of the stem. The next feature to look for is the fruit or flowers hanging down from the under side of the stem, and which can be seen between the leaves in this photo.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 02) In this photo we are looking at the fruit growing under the arched stem of the hairy Solomon's seal. Note that most of the fruit are growing in dangling pairs. The darker tips of the fruit are the remains of the flowers.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 03) This is another photo looking up under a hairy Solomon's seal. We found this particular hairy Solomon's seal very interesting, because it has single, double, and triple fruit clusters hanging down under the stem. The vine-like plant running along the stem to the right of the photo is not part of the hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 03a) We have found that the identification of the minute hairs growing along the veins on the underside of the hairy Solomon's seal leaves is easier to do when the plant is shaded. All of the leaves in this photo have these hairs, but they are only visible when viewed at an angle, such as those on the leaf edge above the vine to the right of the photo, and on the leaf to the left. To the bottom of the photo, we can see a single and double clusters of fruit.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 03b) Looking at the top of the photo, we can see the minute hairs growing along the veins on the underside of the hairy Solomon's seal leaves. We have observed that single rows of hairs follow the minor veins. To the lower portion of the photo we have a closer look at the triple clusters of hairy Solomon's seal fruit.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 04) In this photo of the hairy Solomon's seal, we are looking downward at an angle to see the fruit clusters hanging down from the stem.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 05) This is another photo looking up under a hairy Solomon's seal shortly after the flowers have withered and before he ovaries have begun to swell.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 05a) In this photo of the hairy Solomon's seal, we can see how difficult it is to see the minute hairs when the sun is shining on the leaves.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 06) One of the nice things about this photo of the under side of the hairy Solomon's seal leaves, is that we can clearly see the minor veining. Note also how few of the minute hairs are visible; most being blended into the background.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 07) This is another look at the withered flowers and developing fruit hanging down under the stem of a hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 08) This is another view of the hairy Solomon's seal's developing fruit. This is a native wildflower species of eastern Canada and the United States, and according to the USDA, they can be found in the following US states: CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV, and in the Canadian provinces of NB, NS, ON, QC.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 08a) This is a closer look at some of the developing hairy Solomon's seal fruit. This wild flower can most often be found in shade areas with moist soil in woods and thickets, but we have also seen them growing along roadsides.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 09) This is a top view of a patch of hairy Solomon's seal plants that are competing with other flora of the woodland for available sunlight.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 10) In this photo we have hairy Solomon's seal growing with woodbine. Our subject wildflower is easily spotted because of it's arched plume and alternating leaves.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 11) This is another top view of the hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 12) In this mouse eye's view of the hairy Solomon's seal, we are looking up at the developing green fruit, which turns blue to black when fully ripe.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 13) This is another look at the developing unripe fruit of the hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 13a) In this close up view of the hairy Solomon's seal, we have a better look at the green ripening fruit and the tiny hairs growing along the veins on the underside of the leaf.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 14) This is another springtime look at the hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 14a) This is a closer look at the developing hairy Solomon's seal flowers.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 15) We like the silhouette look of these hairy Solomon's seal flower buds against the out of focus backdrop of the woods and lake.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 16) In this photo we can see how the hairy Solomon's seal leaves grow alternately from the sides of the stem, and that the flower/fruit grow from the leaf axil (upper junction of the leaf with the stem), and hang down below the stem.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 16a) This is a closer look at the hairy Solomon's seal flower/fruit growing from the leaf axil and hanging down below the stem.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 17) In this photo, we are looking at the underside of the a hairy Solomon's seal leaf at its junction with the stem. We find it interesting to note that it is very difficult to see the tiny leaf hairs by looking directly at them, as in the right side of the photo, but by viewing at an angle as on the left side of the photo, the hairs become visible.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 18) In this photo, we are looking up along the stem of the hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 19) This is another top view of the hairy Solomon's seal growing in the woods.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 20) This is another example of how hard it is to see the tiny hairs along the ribs and margin on the underside of the leaves of the hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 20a) Even with higher magnification it is still difficult to see the tiny hairs on the underside of the hairy Solomon's seal leaves without some contrast, as on the margin. The only other hint is that the ribs seem to be somewhat out of focus or fuzzy. We are always amazed by these tiny details that God puts into His creations.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 21) This is another look at the flower buds hanging down below the arch of the hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 22) We're not sure why these hairy Solomon's seal plants got so twisted up, but we thought it would make an interesting photo.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 23) This is another look at this twisted hairy Solomon seal plant.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 24) These are some hairy Solomon's seal that are blowing in the wind, which allows us to also see the underside and flower buds.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 24a) This is a closer look at some of the hairy Solomon's seal flower buds hanging down under the leaf plume.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 25) This is a patch of hairy Solomon's seal growing off the side of the road on the edge of the woods.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 26) This is another look at the wind-blown hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 27) This is another look at the patch of hairy Solomon's seal.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 28) This is a close up side view of a couple of hairy Solomon's seal flowers.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 29) This is another look at some of the hairy Solomon's seal flowers.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 29a) This is a close up side view of a cluster of 3 hairy Solomon's seal flowers.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 30) This is another look at the hairy Solomon's seal flowers hanging down below the stem and leaves.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 31) In this photo of hairy Solomon's seal, we can see the flower clusters hanging down from the leaf axils of two plants.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 32) This is another view of the hairy Solomon's seal plants.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 32a) This is a closer look at some of the hairy Solomon's seal flower clusters.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 33) This is a look at the underside of a hairy Solomon's seal with its couplets of flowers hanging down.

(Solomon's Seal, Hairy (Polygonatum pubescens) - 34) This is another look at the flowers on the underside of a hairy Solomon's seal.

| Wild Flowers of SHL: Photo Identification, Common Name, Scientific Name | Art and Photos |

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Hairy Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum pubescens) Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake From All-Creatures.org Art and Photo Journals and Galleries Directory

Hairy Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum pubescens) Table of Contents

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Hairy Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum pubescens)
Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake From All-Creatures.org Art and Photo Journals and Galleries Directory

Hairy Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum pubescens)
Table of Contents