Morphological Characteristics of Polygonatum and Introduction to Suitable Growing Environments

[Morphological Characteristics]

Perennial herb, plant height 30-120 cm. The whole plant is hairless. The rhizome is yellowish-white, slightly sweet in taste, thick and fleshy, growing horizontally, formed by several chicken-head-shaped sections connected into a shape thick at the head and tapering at the tail; the end bearing the stem is relatively thick, and after the stem withers it leaves a round stem scar like a chicken's eye; the nodes are distinct, with a few roots growing at the nodes. The stem is single, slightly curved, cylindrical. Leaves are usually in whorls of 4-5, sessile; the leaf blade is linear-lanceolate, with a curled tip, grayish bloom on the underside, parallel main veins, and the central vein thick and raised on the underside. Flowers are axillary, white-green, drooping, in umbels; the common peduncle is long, usually forked into 2 at the tip, each bearing 1 flower. The berry is spherical, black when ripe. Flowering period is May-June, fruiting period is June-July.

[Suitable Growing Environment]

It prefers shady and moist conditions, is cold-tolerant, and seedlings can overwinter in the open field. It grows poorly in dry areas and grows well in moist, shaded environments. The best soil is loam with deep, fertile, loose soil and good drainage and water retention. It is not suitable for planting in clay-heavy, excessively dry, or barren plots. Polygonatum is mainly produced in Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi, as well as East China, South China, and other regions.