[False Solomon Seals: The Genus Maianthemum in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume

Maianthemum stellatum

Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata

Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata) - Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata)

The photo at left shows star-flowered false solomon seal as seen above 3000' along Road #8040, Mt. Adams, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.........May 28, 2005. This species is an attractive addition to the open woodland garden, both in terms of its foliage as well as the small star-like flowers as well as the red-striped fruits. The photo at right shows star-flowered false solomon seal blooming in a forest clearing at Monte Cristo Natural Area Preserve....June 21, 2022.

Inflorescence of Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata) - Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata)

The photo at left shows a close-up of the inflorescence of star-flowered false solomon seal as seen above 3000' along Road #8040, Mt. Adams, Gifford Pinchot National Forest..........May 28, 2005. The photo at right shows star-flowered false solomon seal blooming in forest along the Pacific Crest Trail south of Hobart Bluff, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument......May 28, 2021.

Mature fruits of Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata) - Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata)

Nearly mature fruits of star-flowered false solomon seal as seen at left along the Loowit Trail #216 in old growth forest where the trail descends west towards the South Fork Toutle River, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument...........October 19, 2014. The photo at right shows the maturing fruits of star-flowered false solomon seal at Three Corner Rock, Yacolt Burn State Forest.....August 7, 2021.

Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata) - Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata)

Star-flowered false Solomon seal as seen along the Fifteenmile Creek Trail #456 near Fifteenmile Creek Forest Camp, Mt. Hood National Forest......June 27, 2023.

Maturing fruits of Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata)

Maturing fruits of star-flowered false Solomon seal observed along the Umbrella Falls Trail #667, Mount Hood National Forest.....July 26, 2024.

Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata) - Fruits of Small False Solomon's Seal, Star-flowered False Solomon Seal, Starry False Lily-of-the-valley, Starry False Solomon's Seal, Starry Solomon Plume: Maianthemum stellatum (Synonyms: Convallaria stellata, Smilacina liliacea, Smilacina sessilifolia, Smilacina stellata, Unifolium liliaceum, Unifolium sessilifolium, Unifolium stellatum, Vagnera liliacea, Vagnera sessilifolia, Vagnera stellata)

The image at left shows star-flowered false Solomon's seal blooming in conifer forest along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 about one-half mile west of the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.....June 23, 2024. A slightly overexposed photo at right of the red-striped fruits of star-flowered false solomon's seal as seen along the Island Springs Trail #66 at Island Springs Creek on the eastern slopes of Mt. Adams........August 25, 2005. Note the angled stem within the inflorescence and the asymmetrical fruits.
Paul Slichter