Star-flower false Solomon's seal

This short (25 cm) plant has an upright, somewhat zigzagging, unbranched green stem, which is hairless except near the flowers. Its alternate leaves are long and stalkless. Their base circles the stem. They are toothless, but have a few hairs around their edges. The plant bears a terminal raceme of white flowers and small spherical fruit 1 cm across. It is pale yellow with reddish-brown spots, turning red when it ripens. This description corresponds to the maritime variety (crassa) of star-flowered false Solomon's seal, according to Brother Marie-Victorin. Typical star-flowered false Solomon's seal is very similar but more delicate, less stiff and less fleshy. Its stem is arched rather than upright, its leaves less tightly curved around the stem, more supple, thinner, less upright and a more bluish-green.