False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosa)
Aliases: Branched Solomon's Seal, Feathery False Lily of the Valley
Formerly Known As: Smilacina racemosa
You can more readily spot False Solomon's Seal by the leaves than by the flowers, because the latter are tiny and the former are enormous - approaching a foot in length, big enough to foil your macro lens. They're also less evanescent and more trustworthy, retaining their basic leafish nature while the flowers are transforming from buds to blooms to berries and then abandoning the plant altogether for the chance to go traveling with whatever passing birds have taken a shine to them.
False Solomon's Seal grows at a wide range of elevations in Yosemite; I see it reliably every year along the Wawona Meadow trail, which is at around 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) elevation.
Blooms: April - July
Lifespan: Perennial
Origins: Native to California (see distribution maps for California and U.S./Canada)
Maianthemum racemosa etymology: Maianthemum derives from the Greek term for "May flower," referring to the month in which flowers from the genus typically bloom. Racemosa derives from the Latin word for a bunch of grapes, referring here to the arrangement of the flowers on the stem. 1
This Photo: Along the Lewis Creek trail, mid June
Other Resources: CalFlora · CalPhotos · USDA · eFloras.org
