Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Maianthemum racemosa
Wild spikenard
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Smilacina racemosa, Maianthemum racemosum

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA PlantsITISThe Plant ListIPNI

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: FLNAUSDA PlantsBONAPBISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
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F
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M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

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:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation: Maybe

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 4
  • Chicago Area: 3

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