01.
A Bit of Botany
a little botanical information on red root
description
Ceanothus americana is a shrub of the Rhamnaceae family.
The plant reaches heights of 18-42 inches and has many thin branches.
In the wild plant's large root system has presumably developed to compensate for repeated exposures to wildfires.
Its deep-reaching roots are stout and woody. Close to the surface the system is thick with fibrous root hairs.
It produces white flowers in
clumpy inflorescences atop lengthy, axillary peduncles. The red root plant's fruits are dry,
dehiscent, seed capsules.
common names & nomenclature
This plant's leaves was one of the many substitutions American patriots used for imported tea during the American Revolution.
Hence the use of one its common names, "New Jersey Tea".
Also known as:
red root, mountain lilac, redshank, desert buckthorn, new jersey tea