Starry spikenard

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Starry spikenard fruit

Starry spikenard

Starry spikenard flower

Starry spikenard

Starry spikenard leaves

Starry spikenard habit

Starry spikenard inflorescence

Starry spikenard

Starry spikenard inflorescence

Morphology

Stem

Usually erect, sometimes ascending, unbranched, finely hairy or glabrous.

Leaves

Alternate, cauline, strongly ascending or spreading, sessile and clasping; blade parallel-veined, lanceolate or lance-oblong, 3.4 to 5 inches long, .6 to 1.6 inch wide, base tapered, margins entire, tip acute, lower surface finely pubescent, upper surface glabrous.

Inflorescence

Raceme, terminal, .8 to 2 inches long, 6-20-flowered; pedicels 1/8 to 1/4 inch.

Flower

Bisexual, radially symmetric, spreading; tepals 6, greenish white or white, petal-like, narrowly lanceolate to elliptic or obovate, .12 to .28 inch; perianth rotate; stamens 6, filaments distinct; stigma obscurely 3-lobed.

Fruit

Berries green when young, maturing dark red, globose, 1/4 to 2/5 inch; seeds 1-6, brown, globose, 1/6 to 1/4 inch.

Ecology

Habitat

Mesic oak-hickory and floodplain forests, and shaded canyons

Distribution

Nearly throughout Kansas

Practical Information

Uses

The rhizomes of Maianthemum, after presoaking in lye and then boiled in water, were used as a minor food source by some Native Americans. The berries have cathartic properties but are eaten by some birds and small mammals.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.