According to Gerard Solomn’s seal will mend a black eye within a coupe of days caused, and I quote, by “women wilfnulnes, in stumbling upon their haste husbands fists.” I make no comment other than to be grateful that Gerard’s humour would no longer be regarded as acceptable in any way shape or form. The roots of the plant will also help heal wounds and mend broken bones.
It took me years and years to find some Solomon’s seal of my own as wasn’t very popular in garden centres at that time. I assume because it grows in such profusion that those with the plant are more than happy to share it – the knack is to find a gardener with the aforementioned plant. Consequently I have been carefully to pot up some of the plant with each successive move I have made and there is always the concern that it won’t like it’s new home but it is currently spreading happily.
The plant is called Solomon’s seal after the marks on the root which are said according to folk lore to come from King Solomon’s seal when he first discovered the plant’s medicinal properties. Rather alarmingly the notes in my dictionary of plants inform me that the fumes that come from he brewed flowers were used to inspire painters and poets and keep evil spirits at bay. I shan’t be eating it anytime soon even if it a very useful medical plant, not least because my Alnwick Poison Garden guide observes that everything about the plant is toxic -it contains saponins and convallamarin demonstrating that medieval medicine really was a case of kill or cure.
Philips, Stuart. (2012) An Encyclopaedia of Plants: in myth, legend, magic and lore. London: Robert Hale
Thanks for this. I have some in the garden that I look forward to each year.It cuts well and lasts when brought into the house, though very thirsty. Didn’t,t realise it was toxic!
Me to – spring has well and truly arrived when it comes out.
Good read dear lady but this plant is invasive to extreme in my gardens pulling it out is no solution comes back ten times more and twice as fast as daisies.
There’s a whole bank of it in Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh – so I knew it was lively when I managed to get mine. I also love lily of the valley which has spreading habits.
I cannot see solomon having anything to do with plant in his name as wise they say he was and would a wise man plant such a weed as Solomons Sell is that invasive who wants it?