Solomon's Seal
Preserved but no longer current.
Polygonatum multiflorum, a plant with drooping white flowers. As the stems decay the root-stalk becomes marked with scars that have some resemblance to seals; this, according to some, accounts for the name; but another explanation offered is that the root has medicinal value in sealing up and closing green wounds.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Solomon's Seal” mean?
Polygonatum multiflorum, a plant with drooping white flowers. As the stems decay the root-stalk becomes marked with scars that have some resemblance to seals; this, according to some, accounts for the name; but another explanation offered is that the root has medicinal value in sealing up and closing green wounds.
Is “Solomon's Seal” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.