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Sanguinaria candensis
( PAPAVERACEAE ) bloodroot, red root These perennial wildflowers are one of the earliest and most beautiful spring flowers, appearing as early as mid-March. The flowers only last for a relatively short time, but are a welcome sign that spring is on the way. Some common names include bloodroot, redroot, red puccoon, Indian paint, puccoon-root, coonroot, white puccoon, pauson, snakebite, sweet-slumber or tetterwort. As its shape suggests, Sanguinaria canadensis is a member of the Poppy family (Papaveraceae), a small group of some 115 species in 23 genera, found mostly in north temperate zones. The only member of its genus in the world, bloodroot is found wild from Nova Scotia to Florida and as far west as Manitoba and Nebraska. It has been imported to Europe where it also does well. They can be found growing wild in rich, moist woodlands, frequently near streams. The roots were often used by American Indians for medicinal purposes and as a dye for their bodies and clothing. Colonists were quick to catch on, and used the plant to dye cloth -- particularly wool -- a reddish-orange color. Plants are toxic and should not be ingested. Pushing up through the soil in early spring (March to April), both the budded stalk and the plant's single leaf arise together. The tightly rolled leaf is wrapped around the stem and bud, keeping it safe from harm. As the leaf unrolls the flower stem pushes the bud just a bit higher than the leaf where it slowly swells into a blossom. When the petals open, they are still given a degree of protection by the enveloping leaf. Borne on this leafless, smooth stalk, the solitary white flower has 8 to 12 petals about an inch long surrounding a center of bright yellow stamens around a solitary pistil. Like many of our spring flowers, it closes at night and even stays closed on especially gloomy days. The flowers are extremely fragile and the petals are so delicate that the blossoms often last only a day or two before a strong wind or a heavy shower rips them away. This quality makes them useless for picking or using them in arrangements. 
The oblong, narrow, one inch long seedpod is visible a couple weeks after the flower is pollinated. When mature, the pod splits open, and the seeds are carried away, often by ants. The ants eat the aril surrounding the seed, then discard the seeds around their nests. There is only one leaf per flower and when it first appears, it is wrapped around the flower bud. The slightly grayish-green colored new leaf opens to the sun and curls itself back up at night. After flowering, the petals drop and the leaf spreads out, with the underside paler and showing prominent veins. The large blue-grey to green basal leaf is palmately scalloped into 5-9 lobes, and 6 to 10 inches long. Leaves die down after the seeds are dispersed in early summer. The rootstock is thick, round and fleshy, slightly curved at ends, contains an orange-red juice, and is about 1 to 4 inches long, with orange-red rootlets. The root (or juice) of bloodroot is considered toxic, and contains several alkaloids, red resin and an abundance of starch. The most notable alkaloid is sanguinarine, which has shown antiseptic, anesthetic and anticancer activity. American Indians used the root for rhuematism, asthma, bronchitis, lung ailments, laryngyitis, fevers and was also applied to warts. It is used commercially as a plaque-inhibiting agent in toothpaste, mouthwashes and rinses. The root is collected in the autumn, after leaves die down; it must be stored in a dry place or it quickly deteriorates. When dried, they break with a short sharp fracture with very little smell, and a bitter taste. Powdered root causes sneezing and irritation of the nose. No woodland garden is complete without a bloodroot colony. The early white flowers are followed by bold, green leaves, which will persist through most of the growing season. They can be transplanted at any time and will grow in most soils but are best moved when the much expanded leaf is dying down. Plant them in scattered plantings where the roots will not be disturbed, and pretty much forget them. They will continue to flower and produce seed every year, thereby increasing the size of the colony each year. The plant seems immune to insect and disease attack if well situated in the shade garden. Bloodroot grows best in a sheltered woodland with bright sun in the early spring and shade when the leaves come out on the hardwood trees. It transplants easily, propagates readily, and if once established will make delightful patches in a few years. This plant is almost always found in colonies. Plants SHOULD NOT be removed from natural habitats, unless the locality is in danger of destruction or has an over abundance of plants. It's better to obtain the seeds, which have a good germination rate, or to buy plants from a reputable nursery.
CULTURE / CARE
MISC INFO
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