# Polygonatum odoratum

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{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| genus = Polygonatum 
| species = odoratum
| image = Angular_solomons-seal_Polygonatum_odoratum.jpg
| authority = (Mill.) Druce
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="q"/>
| synonyms = *''Convallaria odorata'' <small>Mill.</small>
*''Polygonatum sigillum'' <small>Druce</small>
*''Polygonatum maximowiczii'' <small>F.Schmidt</small>
*''Polygonatum hondoense'' <small>Nakai ex Koidz.</small>
*''Convallaria polygonatum'' <small>L.</small>
*''Convallaria angulosa'' <small>Lam.</small>
*''Polygonatum officinale'' <small>All.</small>
*''Polygonatum anceps'' <small>Moench</small>
*''Polygonatum vulgare'' <small>Desf.</small>
*''Convallaria parviflora'' <small>Poir. in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck</small>
*''Polygonatum obtusifolium'' <small>Weinm.</small>
*''Polygonatum ambiguum'' <small>Link ex Schult. & Schult.f. in J.J.Roemer & J.A.Schultes</small>
*''Convallaria compressa'' <small>Steud.</small>
*''Convallaria obtusifolia'' <small>Günther ex Steud.</small>
*''Polygonatum angulosum'' <small>Montandon in F.Friche-Joset</small>
*''Polygonatum simizui'' <small>Kitag.</small>
*''Polygonatum langyaense'' <small>D.C.Zhang & J.Z.Shao</small>
*''Polygonatum quelpaertense'' <small>Ohwi</small>
*''Polygonatum planifilum'' <small>Kitag. & Hir.Takah.</small>
*''Polygonatum thunbergii'' <small>C.Morren & Decne.</small>
*''Polygonatum japonicum'' <small>C.Morren & Decne.</small>
}}

'''''Polygonatum odoratum''''' ([syn.](/source/synonym_(taxonomy)) ''P. officinale''), the '''angular Solomon's seal''' or '''scented Solomon's seal''', is a [species](/source/species) of [flowering plant](/source/flowering_plant) in the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Asparagaceae](/source/Asparagaceae), [native](/source/native_plant) to [Europe](/source/Europe), the [Caucasus](/source/Caucasus), [Siberia](/source/Siberia), the [Russian Far East](/source/Russian_Far_East), [China](/source/China), [Mongolia](/source/Mongolia), [Korea](/source/Korea), Nepal and [Japan](/source/Japan).<ref name="q">[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=284008 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]</ref><ref name="RHSAZ">{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}</ref><ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027862 Flora of China, Vol. 24 Page 226, <big>玉竹</big> yu zhu, ''Polygonatum odoratum'' (Miller) Druce, Ann. Scott. Nat. Hist. 60: 226. 1906. ]</ref><ref>[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=polygonatum+odoratum Altervista Flora Italiana, Sigillo di Salomone comune, Angular Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum odoratum (Miller) Druce ] includes map of distribution in Europe</ref> In the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) it is one of three native species of the [genus](/source/genus), the others being ''[P. multiflorum](/source/Polygonatum_multiflorum)'' and ''[P. verticillatum](/source/Polygonatum_verticillatum)''.

The [genus](/source/genus) name ''[Polygonatum](/source/Polygonatum)'' comes from the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) words "poly", meaning "many", and "gonu", meaning "knee joint". This is in reference to the plant's jointed [rhizomes](/source/Rhizome). The Latin [specific epithet](/source/Specific_epithet_(botany)) ''odoratum'' means "scented".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum' - Plant Finder|url=https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=l820|access-date=2021-03-12|website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}}</ref>

==Description==
''Polygonatum odoratum'' is a colonizing [herbaceous](/source/herbaceous_plant) [perennial](/source/perennial_plant) growing to {{convert|85|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall by {{convert|30|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide, with alternate, simple [leaves](/source/Leaf) on arching stems. The scented tubular [flowers](/source/Flower) are white with green tips, borne in spring and hanging from the underside of the stems.<ref name=RHSAZ />

Its fruit [persists](/source/persistence_(botany)) for an average of 68.4 days, and bears an average of 2.6 seeds per fruit. Fruits average 80.9% water, and their [dry weight](/source/dry_matter) includes 21.9% [carbohydrate](/source/carbohydrate)s and 1.7% [lipid](/source/lipid)s.{{sfn|Ehrlén|Eriksson|1991}}

==Cultivation==
''Polygonatum odoratum'', like its relative [lily of the valley](/source/lily_of_the_valley), is cultivated in moist, shaded situations, where it will spread by underground [stolons](/source/stolons).<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector – ''Polygonatum odoratum''|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1502|accessdate=28 May 2013}}</ref> [Cultivars](/source/Cultivars) include '[Flore pleno](/source/double-flowered)'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector – ''Polygonatum odoratum'' 'Flore Pleno'|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=6010|accessdate=28 May 2013}}</ref> and 'Variegatum'.<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector – ''Polygonatum odoratum'' 'Variegatum'|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=6109|accessdate=28 May 2013}}</ref>

==Use==
[[File:Dunggulle.jpg|thumb|''Dunggulle'' ([lesser Solomon's seal](/source/Polygonatum_odoratum_var._pluriflorum) roots]]
''Polygonatum odoratum'' is used in [traditional Chinese medicine](/source/traditional_Chinese_medicine) and [Traditional Korean medicine](/source/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](/source/Pius_Font_i_Quer).<ref>Pius Font i Quer, Plantas medicinales, editorial Labor, 1962</ref> According to it, its [rhizome](/source/rhizome) contains [asparagine](/source/asparagine), [mucilage](/source/mucilage), a cardio-tonic [glycoside](/source/glycoside), [saponin](/source/saponin), and [quinine gluconate](/source/quinine). It has been used for intestinal problems and pain, for rheumatism, [gout](/source/gout), [water retention](/source/water_retention_(medicine)), and as a diuretic. He says that the scientific medicine has used it to treat [diabetes](/source/diabetes). He also describes a [digestive](/source/ap%C3%A9ritif_and_digestif) 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (Angled Solomon's Seal, Fragrant Solomon's Seal, Japanese Solomon Seal, Striped Solomon's Seal 'Variegatum', Variegated Solomon's Seal) {{!}} North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox|url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/polygonatum-odoratum-variegatum/|access-date=2021-03-12|website=plants.ces.ncsu.edu}}</ref>

===Safety===
Its rhizome contains scattered [raphide](/source/raphide)s, but only in the cortex (outer layer).{{sfn|Liu|Liu|Yu|Xu|2014}}

==Varieties==
Four varieties are recognized:<ref name="q"/>
*''Polygonatum odoratum'' var. ''maximowiczii'' <small>(F.Schmidt) Koidz.</small> – Japan, Russian Far East
*''Polygonatum odoratum'' var. ''odoratum'' – widespread from Portugal and Great Britain to Japan and Kamchatka
*''Polygonatum odoratum'' var. ''pluriflorum'' <small>(Miq.) Ohwi</small> – Japan, Korea
*''Polygonatum odoratum'' var. ''thunbergii'' <small>(C.Morren & Decne.) H.Hara</small> – Japan, Korea

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite journal |date=2014-11-19 |last1=Liu |first1=Yingjiao |last2=Liu |first2=Canhuang |last3=Yu |first3=Yafei |last4=Xu |first4=Bei |last5=Gong |first5=Limin |last6=Zeng |first6=Xiaoyan |last7=Xiao |first7=Lan |last8=Cheng |first8=Qilai |last9=Liu |first9=Tasi |title=Authentication of Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma and other two Chinese Materia Medica of the Liliaceae family by pharmacognosy technique with GC–MS analysis |doi=10.1002/jemt.22453 |journal=Microscopy Research and Technique |eissn=1097-0029 |volume=78 |issue=2}}
* {{cite journal |date=1991 |first1=Johan |last1=Ehrlén |first2=Ove |last2=Eriksson |title=Phenological variation in fruit characteristics in vertebrate-dispersed plants |pages=463–470 |doi=10.1007/BF00318311 |journal=Oecologia |issn=0029-8549 |volume=86 |issue=4}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060903151745/http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00001139.html Msu.edu: ''Polygonatum odoratum'']
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q157430}}
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odoratum
Category:Flora of Europe
Category:Flora of temperate Asia
Category:Plants described in 1758
Category:Garden plants of Asia
Category:Garden plants of Europe
Category:Medicinal plants of Asia
Category:Medicinal plants of Europe

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Polygonatum odoratum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonatum_odoratum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonatum_odoratum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.