Stout, branching, arching stems 20–48 inches tall have broad oval leaves alternating along the stem with bell-shaped, whitish to greenish-yellow flowers dangling on slender stems from the leaf axils. Note the flower stem is abrupt bent or twisted about mid-stem. Favors shady, moist, mountain habitats.

FLOWER: June–August. One (sometimes 2) bell-shaped flower has 6 narrow tepals, 3/8 inch long (1 cm), joined about halfway then spreading open with the tips recurved. The flower peduncle (stem) and pedicel, together 3/4–2 inches long (2–5 cm), join with an abrupt bend or twist at the joint. Fruit is a bright red to yellowish-orange, oval berry, 1/2 inch long (12 mm).

LEAVES: Alternate with clasping base. Blades oval to oblong with 2–6 inches long (5–15 cm), 3/4–2 inches wide (2–5 cm); tips pointed, base with heart-shaped lobes around stem.

HABITAT: Shady, rich, moist soils; dense forests, slopes, seeps, stream sides, marshy areas; mixed conifer, spruce-fir-aspen forests.

ELEVATION: 7,500–11,000 feet.

RANGE: AZ, CA, ID, MT, NM, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY; Great Lakes, New England.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Smooth Solomon’s Seal, Polygonatum biflorum, also in high-elevation habitats, has tubular flowers that hang on straight stalks. Fairybells, Prosartes trachycarpa, has 1-2 flowers on straight stems, sessile (stemless) but not clasping leaves, and rounded berries.

NM COUNTIES: Mountains of northern NM in mid- to high-elevation, moist habitats: Colfax, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Taos.