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THREE LEAVED SOLOMON'S SEAL

NOMENCLATURE

Other Names: three-leaved Solomon's seal, false Solomon's seal

 Scientific Name: Smilacina trifolia (L.) Desf.

 Plant Family: Liliaceae

GENERAL INFORMATION

Botanical Description: herbaceous

 Stems: slender, erect, 2 - 15 inches tall, usually containing 2 leaves, hairless

 Leaves: lance-shaped or oblong, hairless, 2 - 5 inches long, usually three leaves attached to each stem

 Roots: stoloniferous

 Flowers: six petals and six stamens, 3 to 8 white flowers on a fairly long flower stalk, bloom April - June

 Seeds: in a dark red berry

 Seedling:

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Can be a serious invasive pest if uncontrolled.

LIFE CYCLE

Reproduction: perennial

 Propagation: stolons

 Dispersal: Spreads readily by creeping stolons at or under soil surface. It is often introduced into new plantings with vine cuttings.

DISTRIBUTION

State: Frequent, aggressive invader in northern Wisconsin.

National: Found in wet woods and bogs in the Pacific northwest, northern plains and Great Lake states.

 Origin:

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Most often found in wetlands and very moist soils.

SCOUTING PROCEDURE/ET

While scouting a cranberry bed for disease and insect pests, identify weed populations as they arise. Note the specie(s) of weed present as well as the population level relative to field area. Example: 30% three-leaved solomonOs plume, 10% boneset and joe-pye weed mix.

REFERENCES

Dana, M. 1987. Cranberry Weeds in Wisconsin. Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 23.

 

Gleason, H. A. 1952. Illustrated Flora of the United States and Adjacent Canada. Vol. 1. Lancaster Press, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. p. 426.

 

Kummer, L. D., T. G. Dittl, and T. D. Planer. 1993. Wisconsin Cranberry Weeds. Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. p. 5.

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