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. 



The common name 

 comes from the thick 

 yellow underground 

 stem, which was for- 

 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 s-8 inches broad, with 

 5-9 palmately arranged lobes sharply and unequally toothed. 

 The 1 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 1 2 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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