WorldFloraDB - Caulophyllum thalictroides

Characteristics

Erect, 3–8 dm, glaucous when young; lfls obovate-oblong, 2–5-lobed above the middle, 5–8 cm at maturity; infl a small, panicle-like or raceme-like cyme, 3–6 cm; fls yellowish-green or greenish-purple, the slender, spreading, somewhat twisted sep 1 cm; seeds bitter, dark blue, 5–8 mm, on stalks nearly as long; 2n=16. Rich, moist woods; N.B. to Ont. and Man., s. to S.C., Ala., and Mo. Apr., May. Some authors recognize 2 largely sympatric vars. Var. thalictroides has variously yellow, purple or green sep mostly 4–5 mm. Var. giganteum Farw. blooms 2 weeks earlier and has fewer fls larger in all parts, the consistently purple sep 6–8 mm. (C. g.)

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Stems 2-9 dm. Leaves: 1st leaf (3-)4-ternate; 2d leaf (2-)3-ternate; leaflets 3-8 × 2-10 cm. Inflorescences with 5-70 flowers. Flowers: bracteoles 1-3 mm; sepals yellow, purple, green, 3-6 2-3 mm, apically revolute; petals 1-2.5 mm; stamen filaments 0.5-1.5 mm; pistil 1-3 mm; style 0.25-1 mm. 2 n = 16.

A herb. It grows 30-75 cm high. It has a matted rootstock with underground stems or rhizomes. It can spread widely. The leaves are compound. The flowers are star shaped and green to purple. They are 1 cm across. The fruit are deep blue berries.

Life form

perennial

Growth form

herb

Growth support

-

Foliage retention

deciduous

Sexuality

hermaphrodite

Pollination

-

Spread

-

Mature width (meter)

0.55 - 0.75

Mature height (meter)

0.5 - 0.75

Root system

rhizome

Rooting depth (meter)

0.4

Root diameter (meter)

-

Flower color

Blooming months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruit color

Fruiting months

-

Nitrogen fixer

-

Photosynthetic pathway

c3

Environment

It is a temperate plant. It grows best in moist, cool conditions. It grows in swamps and running streams. It is resistant to frost but sensitive to drought.

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Rich moist soils in swamps, by streams and in woods.

Light
Soil humidity
Soil texture
Soil acidity
Soil nutriment	-
Hardiness (USDA)

Usage

The seeds are roasted and used as a substitute for coffee. The large leaves are eaten after boiling. CAUTION: The fruit are claimed to be poisonous.

Uses	coffee substitute environmental use food medicinal poison
Edible	leaves seeds
Therapeutic use	Dermatological Aid (leaf), Anticonvulsive (root), Antirheumatic (Internal) (root), Gastrointestinal Aid (root), Sedative (root), Toothache (root), Analgesic (root), Antihemorrhagic (root), Emetic (root), Pulmonary Aid (root), Antirheumatic (External) (root), Febrifuge (root), Liver Aid (root), Tonic (root), Gynecological Aid (root), Urinary Aid (root), Kidney Aid (root), Gynecological Aid (unspecified), Antirheumatic (Internal) (unspecified), Febrifuge (unspecified), Cancer (unspecified), Diuretic (unspecified), Emmenagogue (unspecified), Medicine (unspecified), Parturition (unspecified), Spasm (unspecified), Vermifuge (unspecified), Antispasmodic (unspecified), Poison (unspecified)
Human toxicity	-
Animal toxicity	-

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Mode	cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days)	-
Germination temperacture (C°)	-
Germination luminosity	-
Germination treatment	-
Minimum temperature (C°)	-18
Optimum temperature (C°)	-
Size	-
Vigor	-
Productivity	-