Goldenseal

For the magazine from West Virginia, see Goldenseal (magazine).
"Orangeroot" redirects here. For other uses, see Orange-root.

Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Subfamily: Hydrastidoideae
Rafinesque, 1815
Genus: Hydrastis
L.
Species:
H. canadensis
Binomial name
Hydrastis canadensis

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), also called orangeroot[2] or yellow puccoon,[2] is a perennial herb in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to North America. It may be distinguished by its thick, yellow knotted rootstock. The stem is purplish and hairy above ground and yellow below ground where it connects to the yellow rhizome. Goldenseal reproduces both clonally through the rhizome[3] and sexually, with clonal division more frequent than asexual reproduction. It takes between 4 and 5 years for a plant to reach sexual maturity, i.e. the point at which it produces flowers. Plants in the first stage, when the seed erupts and cotyledons emerge, can remain in this state one or more years. The second vegetative stage occurs during years two and three (and sometimes longer) and is characterized by the development of a single leaf and absence of a well developed stem. Finally, the third stage is reproductive, at which point flowering and fruiting occurs. This last stage takes between 4 and 5 years to develop.[4]

A second species from Japan, previously listed as Hydrastis palmatum, is now usually classified in another genus, as Glaucidium palmatum.

  1. ^ Oliver, L. (2016). "Hydrastis canadensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 208. IUCN. e.T44340011A44340071. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44340011A44340071.en.
  2. ^ a b "Hydrastis canadensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  3. ^ Christensen, Deanna; Gorchov, David (2010). "Population dynamics of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) in the core of its historical range". Plant Ecology. 210 (2): 195–211. Bibcode:2010PlEco.210..195C. doi:10.1007/s11258-010-9749-2. S2CID 8956947.
  4. ^ Oliver, L. (2013). "Hydrastis canadensis — Goldenseal". NatureServe Explorer 2.0. Retrieved 2023-01-18.