Yellowroot

Turmeric ( Xanthorhiza simplicissima )

The turmeric ( Xanthorhiza simplicissima ) is the only species of the genus Xanthorhiza in the family Ranunculaceae ( Ranunculaceae ).

Features

The turmeric is achieved with thin (diameter 3-6 mm) aboveground branches and long underground rhizomes, the plant height of 20 to 70 centimeters a deciduous shrub. Roots, rhizomes and bark are yellow. The alternate and tufted at the ends of branches arranged leaves are stalked and one to two times pinnate with three to five leaflets. The 2.5 to 10 cm × 2-8 cm leaflets have split up sawn leaf margins.

The axillary, bent over Rispige, 5 to 21 cm total inflorescence with scale-like bracts composed of racemose partial inflorescences and contains numerous flowers. The hermaphroditic, flowers are radial symmetry fünfzählig. The top five nailed, also present on the fruit bracts are dark brown - purple to greenish yellow and 2.5 to 5 mm × 2 mm in size. The five brown - purple nectar leaves are bilobed and with 0.5 to 0.9 mm is much smaller than the bracts. There are five or ten stamens present. The usually five or ten, rarely two or fifteen carpels each containing two ovules.

The flowering period extends from April to May

The single-seeded, yellowish - brown follicles are 3-4 millimeters in size and stand together to several. The egg-shaped, smooth seeds are reddish - brown.

Occurrence

The turmeric comes from warm to temperate eastern North America on shady banks, in moist woods, in thickets and on rocky ledges at altitudes 0-1200 meters in front.

Use

The turmeric is often used as an ornamental plant for groups of trees. It is in culture at least since 1776.

The underground parts of the plant are used medicinally as well as a yellow dye may be obtained therefrom.

Documents

• Bruce D. Parfitt: Xanthorhiza in the Flora of North America, Volume 3: Online.
• Eckhart J. Hunter, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd Müller, K. (ed.): Rothmaler Exkursionsflora of Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8.