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''Caulophyllum'' is a small genus of perennial herbs belonging to the family Berberidaceae and closely related to the Eurasian genera
Leontice ''Leontice'' is a group of perennial, tuberous herbs in the Berberidaceae described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. Species , Plants of the World Online accepted four species: *'' Leontice armeniaca'' Belanger - Armenia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon ...
and Gymnospermium. It is native to eastern Asia and eastern
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. These plants are distinctive spring wildflowers, which grow in moist, rich woodland, it is known for its large triple- compound leaf, and large blue, berry-like fruits. Unlike many spring wildflowers, it is not an ephemeral plant and persists throughout much of the summer. Common names for plants in this genus include blue cohosh, squaw root, and papoose root. As hinted at by its common names, this plant is well known as an
alternative medicine Alternative medicine is any practice that aims to achieve the healing effects of medicine despite lacking biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or evidence from clinical trials. Complementary medicine (CM), complementary and alt ...
for inducing childbirth and
menstrual The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that make pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs a ...
flow; it is also considered a
poison Poison is a chemical substance that has a detrimental effect to life. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broa ...
ous plant.Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
/ref>


Description

These large, smooth plants (0.3–0.9 m tall) have a single to few
stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
s with each stem bearing normally one, but on large stems two, large triple-compound leaves which the casual observer might assume to be several smaller leaves arranged on three separate branches. Each leaflet ends in three to five distinct tips. Plants produce underground stems called
rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
s that give rise to the leaves each spring and in the fall when the foliage dies back a scar is left on the rhizome and a new bud is formed that will grow into the foliage next spring. Plants are long lived and can live for more than 50 years. They are found in wooded locations with moisture retentive soils. In April or May, each mature stem bears a spike of flowers. Each flower has six petal-like sepals which range from greenish-yellow to purple. The different rates of maturity between the
stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s and the
pistil Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ''pistils'' ...
ensure cross pollination. There are six fleshy
nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
glands at the base of each sepal which attract
pollinator A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower. This helps to bring about fertilization of the ovules in the flower by the male gametes from the pollen grains. Insects are the maj ...
s. Each fertilized flower matures into a large (1 cm) deep-blue berry-like fruit which houses two bitter seeds. The large seeds are covered with a characteristic blue coat, and the fruits remain on the plants until fall. Seed germination can take a few years, and the seedlings are hypogeal, with the cotyledons remaining underground after germination and seedling emergence. The seedlings need a few years of growth before they are large enough to flower.


Species

All species in this genus are very similar. Until recently, this genus was considered to be composed of only two species, however the
Flora of North America The ''Flora of North America North of Mexico'' (usually referred to as ''FNA'') is a multivolume work describing the native plants and naturalized plants of North America, including the United States, Canada, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenla ...
recognizes ''Caulophyllum giganteum'', as a distinct species rather than a subspecies of ''Caulophyllum thalictroides''. ''Caulophyllum giganteum'' is slightly larger, has a more northerly (but overlapping) distribution, and blooms two weeks earlier than ''Caulophyllum thalictroides''. ''Caulophyllum giganteum'' also has fewer flowers, that are consistently purplish. *'' Caulophyllum thalictroides'' – Blue cohosh (E. North America) *'' Caulophyllum giganteum'' – Giant blue cohosh (E. North America) *''
Caulophyllum robustum ''Caulophyllum'' is a small genus of perennial herbs belonging to the family Berberidaceae and closely related to the Eurasian genera Leontice and Gymnospermium. It is native to eastern Asia and eastern North America. These plants are distinctive ...
'' – Asian blue cohosh (Japan, E. Asia)


Uses

Caulophyllum spp. have been used for various (mainly medicinal) purposes from early times. The three species in the genus are generally considered to possess similar properties.Plants for a Future Database: Caulophyllum thalictroides
/ref> This plant is occasionally used in
woodland garden A woodland garden is a garden or section of a garden that includes large trees and is laid out so as to appear as more or less natural woodland, though it is often actually an artificial creation. Typically it includes plantings of flowering shrub ...
s as an ornamental. Children should not be allowed to eat the attractive blue fruits, as these plants contain chemicals that are known to cause cell damage. The powdered roots have been shown to cause dermatitis and irritation of the mucous membranes.


Food

Historically, the roasted seeds have been used as a coffee substitute; this beverage does not contain caffeine.


Medicine

Historically the root of ''Caulophyllum'' has been used as a medicine for: cancer, internal parasites,
smooth muscle Smooth muscle is an involuntary non-striated muscle, so-called because it has no sarcomeres and therefore no striations (''bands'' or ''stripes''). It is divided into two subgroups, single-unit and multiunit smooth muscle. Within single-unit mus ...
function, spasms, diuretic,
menstruation Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hor ...
, and childbirth. It is best known for the latter two uses. Various Native American tribes are also recorded as having used this plant for similar medicinal purposes.Native American Ethnobotany Database by D. Moerman
/ref> While no current widely marketed medicines are based on this plant, modern herbalists and practitioners of
alternative medicine Alternative medicine is any practice that aims to achieve the healing effects of medicine despite lacking biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or evidence from clinical trials. Complementary medicine (CM), complementary and alt ...
still utilize this plant as a natural therapy. Research on the medicinal potentials of this plant are ongoing.


Gallery

File:Caulophyllum giganteum SCA-01295.jpg, C. giganteum, young foliage and flower


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2671028 Berberidaceae Berberidaceae genera Flora of the Eastern United States Plants used in traditional Native American medicine