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Solomon's seal is a 2-3.5' tall plant with a single, unbranched, hairless, arching stem. On the underside of the stem are 12-20 dangling clusters of flowers (2-3 flowers/cluster). The flowers are 1/2-1" long, whitish- or yellowish-green, tubular, with six lobes/tepals fused for most of their length but that flare slightly at their tips; the interior of the flower contains six stamens with yellow anthers and a single style. The fruit is a 1/4" diameter spherical berry, initially green, dark blue-violet or -black when mature. When in bloom or bearing fruit, Solomon's seal is distinctive and easy to identify; when not in bloom, the leaves of Solomon's seal can be difficult to distinguish from those of false Solomon's seal (Maianthemum racemosum) and starry false Solomon's seal (Maianthemum stellatum). (Both Maianthemum sp. have short petioles on their leaves and their flowers are terminal, at the end of the stem, rather than hanging down from the stem.) Polygonatum biflorum is sometimes (incorrectly) referred to as Polygonatum commutatum. The "Solomon's seal" in the name refers to scars on the rhizome fancied to look like a Hebrew seal. I have to admit I just don't see it.

Polygonatum

Polygonatum biflorum

Soloman's seal [Blooms: May-Jul]