SAXIFRAGACEAE - - Saxifrage Family

Hydrastis canadensis Linnaeus — Golden-seal

Habitat:

Mesic (rarely drier), very nutrient-rich forests, with circumneutral soils, over calcareous or mafic rocks such as limestone, amphibolite, and dolostone, sometimes forming large colonies after canopy disturbance such as logging. Exploited for the herbal trade (and still often used as a home remedy in more remote parts of the mountains), though too rare in the eastern part of our area to support economically significant wild collection. The rhizome and roots are bitter in taste and contain several alkaloids.

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].