Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt, 1596 - 1610
brush, h 253mm × w 165mm More details
In addition to capturing the white bell-shaped flowers, the draughtsman has gone a step further by including a depiction of the rhizome, typically hidden beneath the ground, from which a new stem sprouts every year. The rhizome is illustrated at the lower right of the drawing. The scars visible where the old stem withers resemble the imprint of a signet ring: specifically, that of the biblical King Solomon, which explains the plant's name.
