A spring ephemeral with a single large palmate leaf and small white flower. Roots are bright yellow and valued in herbal medicine. Over-harvested for trade.

Also called: Yellow Root (one of many plants called this), Orange Root, Indian Plant

Native status: Native; vulnerable due to over-harvesting

§ Quick facts

SizeHeight 20–40 cm (8–16 in)
WeightN/A
LifespanPerennial; rhizomes long-lived (10+ years)
OrderRanunculales
FamilyRanunculaceae

§ Encyclopedia

Goldenseal, also called orangeroot or yellow puccoon, is a perennial herb in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to North America. It may be distinguished by its thick, yellow knotted rootstock. The stem is purplish and hairy above ground and yellow below ground where it connects to the yellow rhizome. Goldenseal reproduces both clonally through the rhizome and sexually, with clonal division more frequent than asexual reproduction. It takes between 4 and 5 years for a plant to reach sexual maturity, i.e. the point at which it produces flowers. Plants in the first stage, when the seed erupts and cotyledons emerge, can remain in this state one or more years. The second vegetative stage occurs during years two and three and is characterized by the development of a single leaf and absence of a well developed stem. Finally, the third stage is reproductive, at which point flowering and fruiting occurs. This last stage takes between 4 and 5 years to develop.

Source: Wikipedia — Goldenseal Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Spring wildflower with two deeply-lobed palmate leaves on a single stem; small white flower with prominent stamens (no petals) in the fork between leaves; red raspberry-like fruit in summer; bright yellow internal rhizome.

Similar species. False Goldenseal (Coptis groenlandica — only one leaf, different appearance). Twinleaf (paired leaves with distinct lobes).

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. N/A — photosynthesis

Behavior. Once-common wildflower of rich eastern forests. Among the most heavily-harvested wild medicinal plants in North America — bright yellow rhizome contains berberine and other alkaloids with antimicrobial properties, used in traditional and herbal medicine. Slow-growing and slow-reproducing; wild populations cannot sustain commercial demand. Listed on CITES Appendix II to regulate international trade. Sustainably-grown cultivated supplies are an alternative to wild collection.

§ Range

Eastern North America

§ Habitat

Mature deciduous forests

§ Threats

Over-harvest for herbal medicine trade, forest loss, deer browsing.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the goldenseal is currently classified as Vulnerable.

§ What helps

Buy cultivated (not wild) goldenseal. Plant from nursery sources. Don't dig from wild.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • United Plant Savers (at-risk medicinal plant list)
  • CITES Appendix II
  • USDA Plants Database
  • American Herbal Pharmacopoeia