Caulophyllum giganteum
Caulophyllum thalictroides
early blue cohosh, giant blue cohosh, northern blue cohosh
blue cohosh, caulophylle faux-pigamon, papoose-root, squaw-root
2-7 dm.
2-9 dm.
1st leaf (2-)3-ternate; 2d leaf (1-)2-ternate;
leaflets 5-10 × 3-8 cm.
1st leaf (3-)4-ternate; 2d leaf (2-)3-ternate;
leaflets 3-8 × 2-10 cm.
with 4-18 flowers.
with 5-70 flowers.
bracteoles 2-4 mm;
sepals purple, red, brown, yellow, 6-9 × 1-4 mm, laterally revolute;
petals 2-3 mm;
stamen filaments 1.5-2.5 mm;
pistil 3-5 mm;
style 1-2 mm.
bracteoles 1-3 mm;
sepals yellow, purple, green, 3-6 2-3 mm, apically revolute;
petals 1-2.5 mm;
stamen filaments 0.5-1.5 mm;
pistil 1-3 mm;
style 0.25-1 mm.
= 16.
= 16.
Caulophyllum giganteum
Caulophyllum thalictroides
Caulophyllum giganteum has a relatively northern distribution, and it flowers precociously; C. thalictroides has a broader distribution, extending farther south, flowers and fruits later, and is less precocious. Caulophyllum giganteum is treated as part of C. thalictroides by most authors.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Native Americans used various preparations of the root of Caulophyllum thalictroides medicinally to treat rheumatism, toothaches, profuse menstruation, indigestion and stomach cramps, fits and hysterics, genito-urinary disfunction, gallstones, and fever, as an aid in childbirth, and as a general tonic (D. E. Moermann 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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