HOW 2.18.11 Bloodroot

[coppice]

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis

This is an herb I never really searched for in my pursuit of effective herbal anti-spasm remedy. It has an interesting habbit that looks rather orchid like, I've only run into it as an understory neighbor of a very plain orchid in Mixed hard/soft wood lots. I must confess I don't recall the orchids name.

I did rescue some from in front the developers dozer. it took five or six years to really start to bulk up and bloom. I have the total seed production of last years crop inna pot cold stratifying (we'll see if any germinates).

I would not reccomend its use as an herbal remedy (for anything) with out direct medical supervision. It has about as many cautions on use as any I have ever seen. I grow it as a woodland ornamental.

Grow in full filtered shade (I think this had deals going on with neighboring trees). Be very very patient. Its seed is moist and must be transfered directly into stratification or beds. This is a very moist seed DO NOT DRY IT.

[mogarden]

I never thought of bloodroot as being like an orchid, but then again I'm not an orchid person. I think the flowers are cool, you can see some with 8 even petals, some have 4 big and 4 little ones, some even double. The color from the roots used to be used to stain dental plaque (sp) so the techs could see it better to remove. Juice from a fresh root will remove a wart.

[coppice]

Well most of my herbal books aren't where I can conveiniently get at them. Just what the relationship really is between bloodroot and trees isn't fully clear to me. Based soley on my stiring in the dirt, BR and shallow tree roots are very intertwined. Bloodroot rate of growth is very slow-slow. Who is doing what to whom makes me wonder if there isn't some kinda mutualism goin' on in the dirt out of sight.

I'm making speculation based only on my love growin' on, and no kinda science.

[mogarden]

I think you're probably right, those shade-loving plants must be growing where they are for a reason.

[Pharmer Phil]

very interesting, could we get a pic Coppice? I am not sure I have seen this growing

[coppice]

I can just about hit the floor with a camera, digital or film. So none a this work is mine.

www.enter.net/~studio600/jpf/bloodroot.html

www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/sanguinariacana.html

www.herbal-howto-guide.com/bloodroot-sanguinaria-canadensis-pictures.html

[Pharmer Phil]

it's everywhere Coppice... thanks for the links...
didn't know it was of the Papaveraceae family
I knew it as Indian paint; Lots of good info here too...
Bloodroot

[coppice]

"Paint" IE using the red color of the root on skin was an old time use to meet and interest Tslagi girls way back when--or so I'm told.