Maianthemum racemosa
Wild spikenard Taxonomy
Synonyms: Smilacina racemosa, Maianthemum racemosum Subspecific taxa: Classification:
Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI Species Distribution
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County Map Legend
Absent: Not known from county Medium confidence: Medium or unknown confidence; often old records or unverifiable observations Medium-high confidence: Often observations by expert botanists High confidence: Often vouchered herbarium records Planted / introduced: Native species introduced outside historic range, or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations) Historic / extirpated: Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated (Note that this category is not yet functional) North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON
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Species Status
Status/Listing: No Information Notes: Origin: Native
Species Description
General: Monocot, perennial Roots: adventitious, rhizomes Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Parallel leaf venation; linear, oblong leaf shape Inflorescence: panicle Flowers: perfect; 3 merous; complete, regular; white; hypogynous ovary position Fruit: berry Physiology: autotrophic Reproduction: sexual, vegetative
Ecology & Natural History
Habitat: Species is distributed in rich, non-rocky or rocky woodland; in association with Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana; Prunus virginiana; Quercus alba and Quercus rubra; Tilia americana; found in dune woodlands, in association with Quercus velutina; also with Acer saccharum, and Fagus grandifolia. ILPIN Notes: Cooked young shoots are used as a substitute for asparagus; starchy rootstocks are eaten after first soaking in lye and then parboiling them; fresh berries are cathartic. Harden & Arena say that this should be used cautiously. Hardin, J.W. and Jim Arena. 1969. Human Poisoning from Native and Cultivated Plants. Duke University Press, N.C. 167 pp. Functional Relationships:
Human Relationships:
Wildlife and Livestock Information:
Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :
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