description
Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis Root) is a small perennial herb of the Ranunculaceae family.
The plant's bright yellow root-stock is horizontal, irregularly knotted, and grows from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch thick. It is marked with the previous years' flower-stem scars. Below it has slender roots.
In the early spring the hairy, flowering stem pushes up and grows up to 6 to 12
inches in height. The stem is cylindrical and erect, with
downward-pointing hairs and is surrounded at its base with a few
short, brown scales.
The plant produces two wrinkled and prominently-veined, dark
green leaves that are also hairy. These are formed high up on the stem. The lower one is stalked; the upper
stalkless, and roundish in outline though is palmately cut into 5 to 7 lobes, with its
margins irregularly and finely toothed. Additionally one solitary, large, radical leaf
will grow on a long foot-stalk—its form similar to a larger version of the stem leaves—though when
full-grown it will reach about 9 inches across.
In April, the plant's small, solitary flower is produced. It is terminal, erect, and has three small greenish-white sepals, which fall away immediately after expansion. There's no petals but there are numerous stamens. The herb’s bitter constituents, found throughout the plant, are tied to its traditional benefits in supporting digestive and immune health.
Goldenseal fruit is a head of
small, oblong, fleshy, red berries that ripens in July. They are tipped with the persistent styles
and contain one or two hard black, shiny seeds. Though it resembles a raspberry
it is not edible.
common names & nomenclature
The common name Ground Raspberry refers to the fact that goldenseal fruit resembles an inedible raspberry.
Also known as:
yellow paint root, jaundice root, eye balm, ground raspberry, eye root,
orange root, yellow indian plant, turmeric root, yellow puccoon, wild
curcuma, indian dye, warnera
