Smilacina stellata, wild lily-of-the-valley



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Intermountain Flora
Erect and rather strict to flexuous perennial herbs (2) 3-6 (7) dm tall with glabrous or puberulent stems arising from well defined rhizomes; leaves distichous to spiral, flat to folded along the midvein, (4) 6-15 (17) cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or narrowly ovate, the apex acuminate, the blade sessile or somewhat clasping at the base; flowers 5-10 (20), on ascending slender to stoutish pedicels 5-15 (20) mm long, arranged in open, loose racemes mostly 2-6 (10) cm long with the rachis straight or zigzag, the inflorescence infrequently compounded, the tepals lanceolate to narrowly oblong, (3) 5-7 mm long; stamens erect, 2-5 mm long, the filament slender; style 1 mm long; berries greenish-yellow, becoming reddish-purple to black, 6-10 mm long; seeds 2-3, 3-4 mm long; n = 18.

Cronquist, A., Holmgren, A.H., Holmgren, N.H., Reveal, J.L., and Holmgren, P.K. (1977) "Intermountain Flora" pg. 484, vol. 6, The New York Botanical Garden New York.