Xanthorhiza

Marshall

Arbust. Amer., 167. 1785.

Common names: Yellowroot
Etymology: Greek xanthos, yellow, and rhiza, root
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA03 P42 Consolida Coptis Xanthorhiza pg 243.jpegCoptis laciniata
Consolida regalis
Coptis aspleniifolia
Coptis occidentalis
Coptis trifolia
Consolida pubescens
Consolida ajacis
Xanthorhiza simplicissima
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers

Shrubs, deciduous, from long, slender, yellow rhizomes. Leaves cauline, petiolate; cauline leaves alternate. Leaf-blade 1-2-pinnately compound; leaflets lanceovate to broadly ovate or rhombic, margins variously sharply cleft, incised, or serrate. Inflorescences axillary, many-flowered panicles, 5-21 cm; bracts scalelike, not forming involucre. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric; sepals persistent in fruit, 5, dark brown-purple to greenish yellow, plane, lanceolate to oblanceolate, usually clawed, ca. 2.5-5 mm; petals 5, distinct, brown-purple, plane, peltate, 0.5-0.9 mm; nectary terminal, transversely oblong, 2-lobed; stamens 5 (or 10); filaments with base expanded; staminodes absent between stamens and pistils; pistils (2-) 5-10, simple; ovules 2, basal ovule aborting; style present. Fruits follicles, aggregate, sessile, compressed, obliquely oblong or somewhat sickle-shaped, sides not veined; beak becoming abaxial, curved, 0.4-0.8 mm. Seeds reddish-brown, ovoid, smooth. x=18.

Distribution

North America

Discussion

Species 1 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

... more about "Xanthorhiza"
Bruce D. Parfitt +
Marshall +
cuneate +, truncate +  and cordate +
expanded +
0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br /> (0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br />) +
scale-like +
globose;cylindric +
Yellowroot +
North America +
Greek xanthos, yellow, and rhiza, root +
sessile +  and pedicellate +
showy +  and inconspicuous +
sessile +  and aggregate +
sickle--shaped +, oblong +  and compressed +
whorled +, opposite +  and alternate +
lanceovate +  and broadly ovate or rhombic +
palmate +  and pinnate +
serrate;incised;serrate;incised;cleft +
2-lobed +  and oblong +
many-flowered +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (21 cm210 mm <br />0.21 m <br />) +
distinct +
conspicuous +
reduced +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.09 cm0.9 mm <br />9.0e-4 m <br />) +
5 +  and 10 +
Arbust. Amer., +
not arillate +  and stalked +
reddish-brown +
dark brown-purple;greenish yellow +
persistent +
distinct +
3 +  and 6 +
clawed +, lanceolate +  and oblanceolate +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
persistent +
Xanthorhiza +
Ranunculaceae +
herbaceous +  and woody +