Smilacina
(a diminutive of Smilax, to which genus, however, the plants bear little resemblance). False Solomon's Seal. SYNS. Asteranthemum, Jocaste, Medora, Neolexis, Polygonastrum, Sigillaria, Tovaria. ORD. Liliaceae. A genus embracing nearly a score species of mostly hardy perennials, natives of North and Central America, and temperate and mountainous Asia. Flowers small, on short pedicels; perianth at length deciduous, the segments distinct or shortly connate towards the base; stamens six; inflorescence terminal, shortly pedunculate, racemose or forming a simple panicle; bracts small or obsolete. Leaves alternate, very shortly petiolate, ovate, lanceolate, or rarely narrow. The best-known species are described below. They succeed in any light soil, and may be readily increased by divisions.
S. bifolia (two-leaved). A synonym of Maianthemum bifolium. S. borealis (Northern). A synonym of Clintonia borealis. S. canadensis (Canadian). A synonym of Maianthemum bifolium. S. oleracea (culinary).* fl. in a deltoid, terminal panicle, minutely bracteate; perianth white, tinged with rose outside globose, about 1/4in. long and broad; pedicels 1/4in. long, deflexed or ascending. May. fr., berry rose-purple, with dark spots. l. 6in. to 7in. long, alternate, oblong-acuminate, minutely pubescent beneath. Stem sub-erect, simple. h. 4ft. Sikkim, 1877. (B. M. 6313, under name of Tovaria oleracea.) S. racemosa (racemose). False Spikenard. fl. on solitary pedicels; perianth whitish, one line long; panicle oblong or deltoid, shortly pedunculate, 2in. to 6in. long, the branches dense-flowered, ascending. May. l. ten to fifteen, ascending, oblong or lanceolate, acuminate, 3in. to 9in. long, paler and puberulous beneath. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America, 1640. (B. M. 899, under name of Convallaria racemosa.) S. stellata (star-like).* Star-flowered Lily of the Valley. fl., perianth white, two to three lines long; racemes somewhat dense, ten to twenty-flowered, very shortly pedunculate, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long. May. l. six to fifteen, ascending, oblong or lanceolate, 2in. to 6in. long, acute or acuminate, sessile and semi-amplexicaul, glaucous and puberulous beneath. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North-west America, 1633. (B. M. 1043 and L. B. C. 1080, under name of Convallaria stellata.) S. uniflora (one-flowered). A synonym of Clintonia uniflora.