''Caulophyllum thalictroides'', the blue cohosh, is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

in the

Berberidaceae The Berberidaceae are a family (biology), family of 18 genera of flowering plants commonly called the barberry family. This family is in the order (biology), order Ranunculales. The family contains about 700 known species, of which the majority ...

(barberry) family. It is a medium-tall

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

with blue berry-like fruits and bluish-green foliage. The common name cohosh is probably from an Algonquian word meaning "rough". The Greek-derived genus name ''Caulophyllum'' signifies "stem-leaf", while the specific name ''thalictroides'' references the similarity between the large highly divided, multiple-compound leaves of meadow-rues (''

Thalictrum ''Thalictrum'' () is a genus of 120-200 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, native mostly to temperate regions. Meadow-rue is a common name for plants in this genus. ''Thalictrum'' is a taxon ...

'' spp.) and those of blue cohosh.

Description

From the single stalk rising from the ground, there springs a single, large, three-branched leaf, giving rise to a yellow-flowered inflorescence, followed by bluish berries, coated with a glaucous, waxy bloom, somewhat similar in appearance to sloes. The bluish-green leaflets are three-lobed and entire at the base, but serrate at the tip.

Habitat and Distribution

The plant is found in hardwood forests and favors moist coves and hillsides, generally in shady locations, in rich soil. It grows in eastern

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

, from

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

and

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

east to the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

Pollination

The plant is pollinated early in the season by certain bee species, which are attracted by the nectar glands present on the petals.

Uses

The plant has been used as a

medicinal herb Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including Plant defense against h ...

by American Indians. Many Native American tribes, and later European herbologists and mid-wives, would use this herb in conjunction with other herbs and fluids for abortive and contraceptive purposes. The seeds have also reportedly been used a coffee substitute.

Gallery

File:American medicinal plants (Plate 16) (6025391079).jpg, Colored plate from Millspaugh’s ''American Medical Plants'' showing anatomical detail of flower and creeping rhizome File:Caulophyllum thalictroides 001.JPG, Mature clump of plant File:Caulophyllum thalictroides.jpg, Inflorescence of green-flowered form File:Caulophyllum thalictroides 3, Blue Cohosh flower, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman 2017-05-08-16.30 (35387308242).jpg, Close-up of single flower and flower bud (green-flowered form) Caulophyllum_thalictroides_002.JPG, Inflorescence of purplish-green-flowered form File:Blue Cohosh - Caulphyllum thalictroides, Turkey Run Park, McLean, Virginia.jpg, Detail of inflorescence of purplish-green-flowered form, showing single flower full-face File:Caulophyllum thalictroides.jpeg, Young, flowering shoot of deep-purple-flowered form (leaves still tightly furled) File:Caulophyllum thalictroides, 2021-04-08, Trillium Trail, 01.jpg, Lateral view of young inflorescence of purple-flowered form (flowers three-quarter-face) File:Caulophyllum thalictroides, 2021-04-08, Trillium Trail, 02.jpg, Single flower (full-face), flower buds and still furled young foliage of purple-flowered form File:Caulophyllum thalictroides SCA-03872.jpg, Unripe berries and mature foliage File:Caulophyllum thalictroides kz1.jpg, Infructescence, bearing three ripe berries and many tiny, green, undeveloped fruit (lateral view) File:Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) - Flickr - wackybadger (1).jpg, Ripe berries of infructescence, viewed from above File:Thalictrum tuberiferum and Thalictrum aquilegiifolium var. intermedium.JPG, Two ''Thalictrum'' species, showing the foliage referenced in the specific name of
''C. thalictroides''

Chemical Composition

The root contains

essential fatty acids Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty acids that are required by humans and other animals for normal physiological function that cannot be synthesized in the body.⁠ As they are not synthesized in the body, the essential fatty acids al ...

glucosides A glucoside is a glycoside that is chemically derived from glucose. Glucosides are common in plants, but rare in animals. Glucose is produced when a glucoside is Hydrolysis, hydrolysed by purely chemical means, or decomposed by fermentation (bio ...

phytosterols Phytosterols are phytosteroids, similar to cholesterol, that serve as structural components of biological membranes of plants. They encompass plant sterols and stanols. More than 250 sterols and related compounds have been identified. Free phyto ...

saponins Saponins (Latin ''sapon'', 'soap' + ''-in'', 'one of') are bitter-tasting, usually toxic plant-derived secondary metabolites. They are Organic compound, organic chemicals that become foamy when agitated in water and have high Molar mass, molecul ...

, and resinous

essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the ...

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1123801 Flora of Eastern Canada Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora of Ontario Plants used in traditional Native American medicine Abortifacients Berberidaceae Flora without expected TNC conservation status