CROWFOOT FAMILY RANUNCULACEAE 
GOLDEN SEAL. ORANGEROOT 
Hydrastis canadensis L. 
The Golden Seal, also called Orangeroot, is becoming rarer 
every year. Forests, which harbor a rich deep leaf mold and 
create dense shade, are being thinned out, destroying the 
conditions needed by 
the Golden Seal, so 
that it appears doom- 
ed. However, it is 
still found locally 
throughout its range, 
from western New 
England to Minne- 
sota and southward. 
This is the only spec- 
ies known in America 
and there is one other 
in Japan. 
Thecommon name 
comes from the thick 
yellow underground 
stem, which was for- 
t merly much used in 
medicine. In early 
spring it sends up a 
single basal leaf and a simple hairy stem bearing 2 leaves near 
the top and terminated by a single whitish flower, which blooms 
in April. The long-petioled basal leaf is 5-8 inches broad, with 
5-9 palmately arranged lobes sharply and unequally toothed. 
The 2 stem leaves are much smaller but otherwise similar. 
There are no petals; the 3 sepals are petallike and fall off 
as the flower opens. The numerous stamens are the most con- 
spicuous part of the flower. There are usually 12 or more pistils, 
each containing 2 ovules and having a flat 2-lipped stigma. In 
fruit the ovaries form a head of crimson, I or 2-seeded berries, 
the whole somewhat resembling a raspberry. 
This is a plant that is frequently overlooked, not because of 
its low habit but because the flower is short lived and incon- 
spicuous between the terminating leaves. 
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