bloodroot

bloodroot: see poppy.

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bloodroot

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

(credit: Walter Chandoha)

Plant (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family, native throughout eastern and midwestern North America, growing mainly in deciduous woodlands and blooming in early spring. The white, cup-shaped flower with bright yellow stamens in the centre is borne on a reddish stalk. Large, veiny, half-opened leaves on red stalks enfold the flower stem and, after the flower has bloomed, open into multilobed, round, blue-green leaves. The orange-red sap, once used by American Indians for dye, is found in the rhizomes, as is the medical alkaloid sanguinarine. The species, particularly the variety S. canadensis ‘Multiplex,' which has showy double flowers, is an interesting plant for the wild garden.