Asparagaceae FAMILY

Polygonatum biflorum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The fruit and seed are possibly poisonous[ 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. ]. The berries contain an anthraquinone that causes vomiting and diarrhoea[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].

Botanical Description

Polygonatum biflorum is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. It produces a cluster of erect to arching, unbranched, leafy stems around 50 - 200cm tall[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern and central N. America - Saskatchewan to Quebec and Maine, south to Arizona, northeast Mexico and Florida

HabitatDry to moist sandy, loamy or rocky deciduous woods and thickets, usually in upland areas[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Dry to moist deciduous woods, in sandy soil, roadsides, railway embankments, old fields; at elevations up to 3,000 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].