Jeffersonia diphylla

(Linnaeus) Persoon

Syn. Pl. 1: 418. 1805.

Common names: Twinleaf rheumatism-root
EndemicIllustrated
Basionym: Podophyllum diphyllum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 505. 1753
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Leaves: petiole slender, erect, 9-25 cm at anthesis, maturing to 18-43 cm. Leaf-blade 2-foliolate, often with minute apiculation between leaflets; leaflets 1.2-4 × 0.6-2.5 cm at anthesis, maturing to 6-13 × 3-7 cm, lobes rounded to acute. Scapes 9-33 cm, frequently taller than petioles at anthesis. Flowers: sepals elliptic to obovate, 7-15 × 4-6 mm; petals white, elliptic to obovate, 11-22 × 9-12 mm; stamens 6-12 mm; filaments 2-3 mm; anthers 4-9 × 1-1.5 mm; ovaries 6-11 × 3-7 mm. Fruits 18-38 × 8-17 mm, leathery, opening transversely, apical quarter resembling lid, becoming reflexed. Seeds oblong, 4-7 × 2 mm; aril laciniate, attached at adaxial side of hilum. 2n = 12.


Phenology: Flowering early spring; fruiting spring.
Habitat: Rich moist woods to semiopen rocky slopes and outcrops, usually over limestone or other calcareous rocks
Elevation: 100-800 m

Distribution

V3 1012-distribution-map.gif

Ont., Ala., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Md., Mich., Minn., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., Tenn., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Plants of Jeffersonia diphylla were used medicinally by Native Americans for treatment of dropsy, gravel and urinary ailments, and for gall and diarrhea, and in poultices for sores and ulcers (D. E. Moermann 1986).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Jeffersonia diphylla"
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
laciniate +
Lisa O'Rourke George +
(Linnaeus) Persoon +
Podophyllum diphyllum +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (18 cm180 mm <br />0.18 m <br />) +
reniform-orbiculate +
Twinleaf +  and rheumatism-root +
Ont. +, Ala. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Ky. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Pa. +, Tenn. +, Va. +, W.Va. +  and Wis. +
100-800 m +
small +  and large +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (?) +  and 3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (?) +
1.8 cm18 mm <br />0.018 m <br /> (3.8 cm38 mm <br />0.038 m <br />) +
obovoid +  and capsule-like +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.7 cm17 mm <br />0.017 m <br />) +
Rich moist woods to semiopen rocky slopes and outcrops, usually over limestone or other calcareous rocks +
axillary +  and terminal +
2-foliolate +
1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
maturing +  and anthesis +
rounded;acute +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
1-carpellate +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
basal +  and superior +
obovoid +
3mm;7mm +
3-merous +  and 2-merous +
distinct +
11mm;22mm +
elliptic;obovate +
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
Flowering early spring +  and fruiting spring. +
frequently taller +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (33 cm330 mm <br />0.33 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
10 +  and 25 +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +
distinct +
elliptic;obovate +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
Endemic +  and Illustrated +
elongating +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
palmate +  and pinnate +
persistent +
Jeffersonia diphylla +
Jeffersonia +
species +
deciduous +  and perennial +