E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Maianthemum racemosum subsp. amplexicaule (L.) Link (Nutt.) LaFrankie
false Solomon's-seal (feathery false lily of the valley)
Asparagaceae
(Previously in Liliaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants
Once images have been obtained, photographs of this species will be displayed in this window.Click on the image to enter our photo gallery.
Currently no image is available for this taxon.
E-Flora BC Static Map
Distribution of Maianthemum racemosum subsp. amplexicaule
Click here to view our interactive map and legend
Details about map content are available here
Click on the map dots to view record details.

Species Information

Click on the image below to view an expanded illustration for this species.



General:
Perennial herb from a stout, fleshy, knotty, brownish rhizome; stems erect to stiffly arched-ascending, 30-100 cm tall, finely spreading-hairy above.
Leaves:
Stem leaves 5 to 12, alternate often in two rows, oblong-elliptic to egg-shaped, tapering to a frequently clasping base, 5-20 cm long, 4-8 cm wide, unstalked or short-stalked, short stiff-hairy on undersurface, the margins entire; basal leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a branched, egg- or pyramid-shaped, (3) 5- to 12-cm long, terminal cluster of numerous, spreading, short-stalked flowers; flowers white, wheel-shaped, of 6 similar, distinct tepals, the tepals 1.5-3 mm long, narrowly oblong; stamens 6, longer and wider than tepals; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Berries, globe-shaped, at first mottled green and red, eventually all red, 5-7 mm wide; seeds usually 1 or 2.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist to mesic forests, streambanks, meadows and clearings in the lowland and steppe to subalpine zones; common throughout BC south of 56degreeN, rare northward; N to AK, E to SK and S to SD, TX, NM, AZ and CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 960 1083 1250
Slope Gradient (%) 6 13 20
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
17 357 310
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
5 5 6
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3
Modal BEC Zone Class
ESSF
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: ESSF(2), SBS(1)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Maianthemum amplexicaule (Nutt.) W.A. Weber
Maianthemum racemosum var. amplexicaule (Nutt.) Dorn
Smilacina amplexicaulis Nutt.
Smilacina amplexicaulis var. glabra J.F. Macbr.
Smilacina amplexicaulis var. jenkinsii Boivin
Smilacina amplexicaulis var. ovata Boivin
Smilacina racemosa var. amplexicaulis (Nutt.) S. Watson
Smilacina racemosa var. brachystyla G. Henderson
Smilacina racemosa var. glabra (J.F. Macbr.) St. John
Smilacina racemosa var. jenkinsii (Boivin) Boivin
Vagnera amplexicaulis (Nutt.) Greene
Vagnera amplexicaulis var. glabra (J.F. Macbr.) Abrams

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References