Golden Seal

Hydrastis canadensis

Family Ranunculaceae

Brief Description: This herb has alternate, palmately veined, five-lobed, broadly cordate-rotund leaves; up to 10 inches long. Flowers are solitary and terminal. The leaves and inedible fruit resemble that of raspberry.

Blooms in April and May.

Geographic Range: From Vermont to Michigan and Minnesota, south to North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Habitat: Deep, rich woods

Historic Uses: This plant has many supposed medical properties including using the root as a tonic bitter and a wash for inflamed eyes. In 1918, between 200,000 and 300,000 pounds of the root was used. See Lloyd and Lloyd, Drugs and Medicines of North America (1984) for 100 pages of uses.