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achlys, deer's foot, deer-foot, sweet-after-death, vanilla-leaf

Habit Plants, 2-4 dm.
Leaves

petiole 1-3 cm.

Inflorescences

2.5-5 cm excluding peduncle.

Flowers

stamens 3-4 mm;

ovaries 1-1.5 mm.

Central

leaflet blade 4-11 × 4-8 cm, proximal margins entire, distal margins (1-)3-4(-8)-lobed.

Follicles

red-purple, 3-4.5 mm.

2n

= 12.

Achlys triphylla

Phenology Flowering spring–summer (Apr–Jul).
Habitat Mountain regions in Cascade Range and Coast Range of California in coniferous forests
Elevation 0-1500 m (0-4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR; WA; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Medicinally, Native Americans used preparations of the leaves of Achlys triphylla to treat tuberculosis, for a hair wash, and as an emetic (D. E. Moermann 1986).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 3.
Parent taxa Berberidaceae > Achlys
Sibling taxa
A. californica
Synonyms Leontice triphylla
Name authority (Smith) de Candolle: Syst. Nat. 2: 35. (1821)
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