Polygonatum officinale

(Allen) Moench.

Drug Solomonseal, Hopiqdyuqdyuq

Asparagaceae Edible: Leaves, Rhizomes, Roots Potential hazards — see below 17 iNaturalist observations

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Description

An evergreen herb. It grows 20-50 cm high. The roots are yellow. They grow horizontally and have many branches. The stem is red. The leaves are red at the edges. They are 4-6 cm long by 1.5-2 cm wide. They have 3 easy to see veins. The upper surface is green and underneath is pale green. The flowers occur singly or in pairs. They are whitish-green. The fruit are round and dark blue in colour.

Edible Uses

The leaves and rhizomes are milled and eaten. The roots can be boiled or fried. The fruits are eaten fresh or dried in small amounts. Young shoots can be boiled briefly and eaten like asparagus shoots. The flowers can be steamed or eaten with salads.

Traditional Uses

The leaves and rhizomes are milled and eaten. The roots can be boiled or fried. CAUTION: The rhizome may be toxic. The fruit are eaten fresh or dried. (They should not be eaten in large amounts) The young shoots can be boiled fro s short time and eaten like asparagus shoots. The flowers can be steamed or eaten with salads.

Medicinal Uses

It is used in medicine and contains fructose, glucose and arabinose.

Known Hazards

Polygonatum odoratum is used in traditional Chinese medicine and Traditional Korean medicine, where it is called yùzhú (玉竹) and dunggulle (둥굴레) respectively. In Korea, the root of the plant is used to make tea. This plant species is described in the work Plantas Medicinales (medicinal plants) of Pius Font i Quer. According to it, its rhizome contains asparagine, mucilage, a cardio-tonic glycoside, saponin, and quinine gluconate. It has been used for intestinal problems and pain, for rheumatism, gout, water retention, and as a diuretic. He says that the scientific medicine has used it to treat diabetes. He also describes a digestive liquor that uses the rhizome of this plant. The young shoots of the plants may be boiled and served like asparagus. The stems, leaves, and berries, however, must be treated with caution, as they are thought to be toxic if consumed in large quantities. Its rhizome contains scattered raphides, but only in the cortex (outer layer).

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Europe, Indochina, Manchuria, Myanmar, North America, SE Asia, Siberia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Notes

There are about 50 Polygonatum species. It is used in medicine. Chemical composition: contains fructose, glucose and arabinose. Also put in the family Convallariaceae.

Synonyms

See Polygonatum odoratum

References (8)

BARANOV,
Esperanca, M. J., 1988. Surviving in the wild. A glance at the wild plants and their uses. Vol. 2. p 233
Fl. Pedem. 1:131. 1785
Hani Medicine of Xishuangbanna, 1999, p 315
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 510

Show all 8 references