|
 Solomon's
Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
from the link
☼
---Synonyms---Lady's Seals. St. Mary's Seal.
Sigillum Sanctae Mariae.
(French) Scean de Solomon.
(German) Weusswurz.
---Part Used---Root.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---Description---The creeping root-stock, or underground stem, is thick and
white, twisted and full of knots, with circular scars at intervals, left by the
leaf stems of previous years. It throws up stems that attain a height of from 18
inches to 2 feet, or even more, which are for some considerable portion of their
length erect, but finally bend gracefully over. They are round, pale-green in
colour, and bare half-way up; from thence to the top, large and broadly-oval
leaves grow alternately on the stem, practically clasping it by the bases. All
the leaves have the character of turning one way, being bent slightly upward, as
well as to one side, and have very marked longitudinal ribbing on their
surfaces.
The generic name Polygonatum signifies many-angled, and is supposed to be
derived either from the numerous knots or swellings of the root or from the
numerous nodes or joints of the stem, but the characteristics are not very
marked ones. The specific name, multiflorum, serves to distinguish this
manyflowered species from another in which the blossoms are solitary, or only in
pairs from each axil.
The origin of the common English name of the plant is variously given. Dr. Prior
tells us it comes from 'the flat, round scars on the rootstocks, resembling the
impressions of a seal and called Solomon's, because his seal occurs in Oriental
tales.'
Another explanation is that these round depressions, or the characters which
appear when the root is cut transversely, and which somewhat resemble Hebrew
characters, gave rise to the notion that Solomon 'who knew the diversities of
plants and the virtues of roots,' has set his seal upon them in testimony of its
value to man as a medicinal root.
The powdered roots make an excellent poultice for bruises, piles, inflammations
and tumours. The bruised roots were much used as a popular cure for black eyes,
mixed with cream. The bruised leaves made into a stiff ointment with lard served
the same purpose. Gerard says:
'The roots of Solomon's Seal, stamped while it is fresh and greene and applied,
taketh away in one night or two at the most, any bruise, blacke or blew spots
gotten by fals or women's wilfulness in stumbling upin their hastie husband's
fists, or such like.'
In Galen's time, the distilled water was used as a cosmetic, and
Culpepper says:
'the diluted water of the whole plant used to the face or other parts of the
skin, cleanses it from freckles, spots or any marks whatever, leaving the place
fresh, fair and lovely, for which purpose it is much used by the Italian ladies
and is the principal ingredient of most of the cosmetics and beauty washes
advertised by perfumers at high price.'
The roots macerated for some time in water yield a substance capable of being
used as food and consisting principally of starch. The young shoots form an
excellent vegetable when boiled and eaten like Asparagus, and are largely
consumed in Turkey. The roots of another species have been made into bread in
times of scarcity, but they require boiling or baking before use.
The flowers and roots used as snuff are celebrated for their power of inducing
sneezing and thereby relieving head affections. They also had a wide vogue as
aphrodisiacs, for love philtres and potions.
|
LucasLand