﻿THE GERMINATION OF HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 



BY HENRI HUS. 



Hydrastis canadensis L., popularly known as Golden Seal, 

 Orange-root, Yellow Puccoon and by numerous other names, 

 is one of our native plants of more than ordinary interest. 

 Not only is it frequently planted in eastern gardens on ac- 

 count of its decorative effect and especially because of its 

 crimson fruit, but as a plant of reputed therapeutic value it is 

 often grown on a comparatively large scale for pharmaceutical 

 purposes. This cultivation is becoming more important as 

 the years go by. A vast army of collectors is scattered 

 throughout the United States, gathering the plant in its wild 

 state. A time will undoubtedly come when the supply from 

 this source will fall far short of the demand, and when it will 

 become necessary to take recourse to artificial sources to 

 furnish the trade with the requisite amount. 



The commercial article consists of the dried rhizomes, which 

 are official in the Pharmacopoeia of the United States 

 and in many other countries. Especially in Europe the 

 greater value of Hydrastis in gynecological practice as com- 

 pared with the various, frequently unreliable, preparations 

 of Ergot, is becoming more and more recognized. The active 

 principle contained in the rhizome is an alkaloid, hydrastine, 

 which, according to Lloyd,* occurs to a lesser extent in the 

 roots. Unfortunately for the grower, the propagation of this 

 plant, as commonly practiced, is by means of division of the 

 rootstock, and though a single one, four years old, may be 

 divided into three or four pieces,! a considerable pecuniary 



* Lloyd, J. U. and C. G. Drugs and Medicines of North America. 

 1, Ranunculaceae. 1884-85. Here a very complete list of the earlier 

 pharmaceutical, medical and botanical literature of Hydrastis may be 

 found. 



t Rhizomes, six to ten years old, may possess from 20 to 60 fertile 

 stems. — See Homer Bowers, A contribution to the life-history of 

 Hydrastis canadensis. (Bot. Gaz. 16 : 73). 



Alice Henkel and G. F. Klugh, in Bulletin 51 of the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, U. S. D. A., mention that by a division of 40 plants, the next 

 year 150 plants were obtained, an increase of 275%. 



(85) 



