MAIANTHEMUM TRIFOLIUM (L.) Sloboda

Three-leaved False Solomon's-seal

 

 

FAMILY: Liliaceae

HABIT: Perennial herb from a long creeping rhizome, stem 1-4 dm; flowers May-June, fruits June-Aug.

SIMILAR SPECIES: This species may be confused with Smilacina stellata. S. trifolia has 1-4, glabrous cauline leaves, a long-peduncled raceme and dark red berries, whereas S. stellata has more than 6, finely pubescent leaves, a nearly sessile raceme and dark-striped green berries.

TOTAL RANGE: Lab. to Mackenzie, s. to NJ, PA, OH, IL, MN, Man., Sask. and Alb.

STATE RANGE: There are historical records for this species from Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain and Mahoning Counties.

STATE STATUS: 1980 to present: Presumed Extirpated.

HABITAT: Bogs and swamps.

HAZARDS: Destruction of bog habitat by filling, flooding or draining.

RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Probably poor since the species has not been collected in Ohio for over 100 years.

INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Collect mature flowering or fruiting material; do not disturb the rhizome.

COMMENTS: The species should be sought in bogs throughout northeastern Ohio.

SELECTED REFERENCES:

 

Braun, E.L. 1967. The Monocotyledoneae [of Ohio]: Cat-tails to orchids. The Ohio State Univ. Press, Columbus OH. 464 pp.

Galway, D.H. 1945. The North American species of Smilacina. Amer. Midl. Nat. 33: 644-666.

Voss, E.G. 1972. Michigan Flora, Part I. Gymnosperms and monocots. Cranbrook Inst. Sci. Bull. 59, Bloomfield Hills, MI. 488 pp.

 

 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

Created: 2/1985 James F. Burns

Revised: 4/1993 Greg Schneider