Goldenseal ( Hydrastis canadensis L.)
Researcher: Tanner Filyaw

Common Names:
Yellow root
Orange root
Ground Raspberry
Yellow eye (2)
Eye balm
Yellow paint
Wild tumeric (6)
Yellow puccoon
Eye root
Indian paint
Jaundice root (15)
Curcuma (10)

Genus: Hydrastis (1 species) (18)

Family: Ranunculaceae, commonly known
as the Buttercup family (2), and contains 26
genera (18).

Synonyms: Hydrophyllum verum
canadense L. (1753), from Species Plantarum (11)
Warnera (Miller,1760) (9)

Relatives: Glaucidium palmatum, native
to Asia (15)

Duration: Perennial

Habit: Forb/herb, exhibiting clonal growth
from the rhizome (14), occuring in patches(6).

Height: Can grow up to sixteen inches tall,
with a six to twelve inch spread (3).

Stems: Stems are forked, downy, and emerge
in early to mid April. Mature plants will have
two or more stems originating from the
rhizome (6), and will be glaucous instead of
downy (15).

Goldenseal leaves—Rural Action stock photo

Leaves: The leaves of Goldenseal are light
green in color, palmate, and deeply divided
into 5-7 lobes, with a doubly serrated leaf
margin (3). Plants typically bare two leaves
that are roughly 8 inches long, and can be up
to twelve inches wide (6). One leaf is usually
much larger than the other, with the smaller leaf being directly associated with the fruit, and
flower (4). The first true leaves arise from the rhizome in the spring along with the stem (15). According to Harding (1936), Goldenseal does not express its true leaves until the second
growing season, making plants in their first year difficult to identify (10).


Goldenseal flower— University of Tennessee Herbarium
site ( http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/ ), Austin Peay
University site ( http://www.apsu.edu/ ),
and photographer Thomas G. Barnes

Flowers: The flower of H. canadensis is
small, and has three petaloid sepals that drop
as soon as the bud opens (15). As the sepals
drop, the flower becomes almost entirely composed of numerous greenish/white stamens, that measure between four and eight centimeters
in length (15). Each flower contains five to
twelve individual ovaries, which fuse shortly
after fertilization (15). Goldenseal typically
blooms during late April or early May of its
third of fourth year, with the flowers persisting
for about a week (3).


Hugh H. Iltis & Wisconsin State Herbarium

Fruit: The fruit of H. canadensis is an
aggregate berry, closely resembling a raspberry, and forms from several fused ovaries of the
flower (15). The berry turns from green too
red as it ripens in mid summer, and if not
disturbed, or shaken from the plant, will
eventually turn dark brown (10). Each fused
ovary contains one or two seeds, collectively numbering between ten and thirty seeds per
berry (3). Evidence suggests that various forms
of wildlife are responsible for the dispersal of Goldenseal seeds due to the positioning of the
fruit on the plant, and the absence of fallen fruit
on the forest floor (15).

Seed: Seeds are described as small, round,
black, and hard (6). It is important to note
that the viability of Goldenseal seed heavily depends on moisture content. If allowed to dry,
the seed will be completely destroyed (10). According to Cech (2002), Goldenseal seed requires at least three months cold stratification prior to germination, and low temperatures also
act as a deterrent to fungal diseases (4).


Goldenseal root broken open to expose bright yellow (gold)
inside —Rural Action stock photo

Roots: Goldenseal roots are yellowish/orange
in color, knotty, and roughly measure
between ½ and ¾ inches thick (3). The rhizome
is covered with numerous cup-like stem scars,
and is surrounded by a dense mass of fibrous
rootlets (6). According to Harding (1936), Goldenseal can have anywhere from twelve to
one hundred fibrous rootlets, and can grow
up to two or three feet in length (10).

Pollination: The most frequent visitors of H. canadensis have been observed to be Syrphid flies, and bees of varying sizes (genera Dialictus, and Evylaeus) (15).

Habitat: Goldenseal prefers open hardwood forests, with rich humic soils,
and a slight slope (around 5%) to facilitate drainage (6)(7). Plants are found to be
most vigorous in stands with 60-65%
shade (15), and pH values between 5.5
and 6.5 (3). Studies of Goldenseal populations near roadsides, and trails
have also indicated that disturbance
events are not detrimental to Goldenseal populations, suggesting that a pristine site may not be necessary, as long as
adequate canopy closure is provided (15). Researchers have also observed that plant vigor is diminished in stands with an overabundance of canopy cover, indicating that some sites may need thinning prior to woodland cultivation (15).

Associations:
Eastern U.S. : Mixed Hardwood Forest
Black Cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa )
Bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis )
Wild Yam ( Dioscorea quaternata )
American Ginseng ( Panax
quinquefolius ) (4)
Maidenhair Fern ( Adiantum pedatum )
Christmas Fern ( Polystichum acrosstichoides )
Jack in the Pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum )
Blue Cohosh ( Caulophyllum
thalictroides )
Wild Ginger ( Asarum canadense )
Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum )
Tulip Poplar ( Liliodendron tulipifera ) (2)
Red Oak ( Quercus rubra ) (14)
Black Walnut ( Juglans nigra ) (7)
Sycamore ( Plantus oxidentalis )
Basswood ( Tilia americana )

Western U.S. : Mixed Alder Forest
Alder ( Alnus oregona )
Big Leaf Maple ( Acer macrophyllum )
Sword Fern ( Polystichum munitum )
Oregon Grape ( Mahonia nervosa )
Trillium ( Trillium spp .) (4).

Range: Goldenseal is native to North America, and can be found growing from Ontario to Arkansas , across the southeastern U.S. to Georgia , and north
to Quebec (3). This species occurs in twenty-seven states, as well as Ontario (15), and is considered threatened in nearly all of its range (1). Goldenseal can be cultivated outside of its native range, with the greatest success being in Oregon , Washington , and British Columbia (4).

Pests/Diseases: In a natural setting H. canadensis is not typically affected by
pests or diseases (15). In wild populations, deer herbivory is the most common problem, as well as predation by
slugs (15). Slugs can be controlled by
hand, commercial poisons (15), or with diatomaceous earth (2). There is little that can be done to control deer predation in wild populations, but in cultivated settings, constructing a fence is the best option for control. Under cultivation, Goldenseal is much more likely to encounter problems with pests and disease. Several cases of Botrytis (leaf blight) have been
documented (2), as well as root knot nematodes (6), alternaria, rhizoctonia, and fusarium (15). According to Cech (1999), the use of multi-cropping in cultivated settings will help reduce the risks of pests and disease (5).

Other threats: There are also several other existing, and potential threats to Goldenseal populations, both under cultivation, and in the wild. Due to its popularity, and market value, theft is the primary threat to growers (2). Wild populations have come under pressure
as a direct result of habitat loss. Habitat
loss can be attributed to several factors, including agricultural expansion, road building, urbanization, and the spread of invasive plants (12). Aside from habitat loss, over-harvesting of wild roots is the number one threat to H. canadensis populations, and has been outlawed in
much of its range (15).

Conservation status: Several steps have been taken to ensure the survival of wild Goldenseal. In 1977, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service implemented the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species (CITIES), which was designed to monitor, and regulate the international trade of endangered flora and fauna (2). In the fall of 1997, Goldenseal was officially registered under the protection of CITIES, requiring that all plants destine for export be cultivated, and not harvested from the wild (15). State legislators have also taken steps to protect, and preserve remaining populations. In fact, it is now illegal to wild craft Goldenseal root in much of its native range, including North Carolina , Vermont , Connecticut , Georgia , Massachusetts , Minnesota , and New Jersey (1). Industry professionals have also made several conservation efforts, and now only purchase roots in the fall to discourage premature harvesting (5).

History/Culture: Goldenseal was well known by Native Americans for its curative properties, and was adopted by European settlers soon after their arrival in the new world. Native Americans used Goldenseal for a variety of applications, such as paints, dyes, and in the treatment of whooping cough, and pneumonia (6). The first documented use by European settlers was in 1798, and its popularity spread like wild fire (15). The plant was listed in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia from 1860-1926, and in the National Formulary from 1936-1955 (11). By 1860 there was already increasing commercial demand for the species, and as early as 1884 declines in native populations were reported (2). In the early 1900's it was estimated that there was between 200,000 and 300,000 pounds of Goldenseal root harvested every year (2). According to Foster (2003), over harvesting was largely attributed to farm laborers, or members of the poorer classes, collecting roots during times of economic hardship, or crop failures to supplement their income (8).