Maianthemum trifolium (Three-Leaved Solomon's Seal) - photos and description

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: Native.

General: Small, rhizomatous perennial native to mossy woods and bogs. Plants glabrous.

Flowers: Flowers grow in a loose terminal raceme, are small, white, with 3 petals and 3 sepals. We measured flowers to 8 mm in diameter.

Leaves: Leaves are alternate, oblong-ovate, stalkless, and clasp the stem. Usually 2 leaves are visible, with a third leaf growing just beneath the sphagnum moss. I measured a leaf at 8 cm long, and 2.5 cm wide.

Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 30 cm, we measured plants to 16 cm tall.

Habitat: Growing on sphagnum moss in wet woods and bogs in the boreal forest.

Abundance: Common.

When and where photographed: Took the above photos June 5th and June 18th, in a pitcher plant bog, near Hudson Bay, SK, about 400 km northeast of our home in Regina, SK.