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Xanthorhiza simplicissima
Stems 20-70 cm, 3-6mm diam.; bark smooth, ringed with leaf scars, inner bark yellow. Leaves clustered near stem apex, to 18cm; leaflets 3-5, 2.5-10 × 2-8 cm, sessile to short-petiolulate. Inflorescences broad-paniculate, arising from cluster of leaves, 6-21 cm, short-pilose; pedicel 2-5 mm. Flowers: sepals spreading, acuminate; petals with nectary transversely oblong, 2-lobed. Follicles yellowish brown, glossy, somewhat inflated, 3-4 mm, distally ciliate. 2 n =36. The genus name as well as the common name refer to the plant's yellow roots (xantho- meaning "yellow" and rhiza meaning "root"), which was used to produce a yellow dye by Native Americans. The species name refers to the simple (not branched) root.
It is native to the eastern United States from Maine south to northern Florida and west to Ohio and eastern Texas. Flowering spring-summer (Apr-May). Shaded stream banks, moist woods, thickets, and rocky ledges; 0-1200 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Miss., N.H., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, S.C., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va.
Spotted growing in stream bed on West Loop at Pine Mountain Recreation Area (Cartersville, GA) Add'l ref: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?f...
Spotted on Apr 6, 2013
Submitted on Apr 9, 2013
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