Flora of North America species comparison

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Jeffersonia diphylla

rheumatism-root, twinleaf
Leaves

blade 2-foliolate, often with minute apiculation between leaflets;

leaflets 1.2-4 × 0.6-2.5 cm at anthesis, maturing to 6-13 × 3-7 cm, lobes rounded to acute.
Scapes

9-33 cm, frequently taller than petioles at anthesis.
Flowers

sepals elliptic to obovate, 7-15 × 4-6 mm;

petals white, elliptic to obovate, 11-22 × 9-12 mm;

stamens 6-12 mm;

filaments 2-3 mm;

anthers 4-9 × 1-1.5 mm;

ovaries 6-11 × 3-7 mm.
Fruits

18-38 × 8-17 mm, leathery, opening transversely, apical quarter resembling lid, becoming reflexed.
Seeds

oblong, 4-7 × 2 mm;

aril laciniate, attached at adaxial side of hilum.
2n

= 12.

Jeffersonia diphylla
Phenology Flowering early spring; fruiting spring.
Habitat Rich moist woods to semiopen rocky slopes and outcrops, usually over limestone or other calcareous rocks
Elevation 100-800 m (300-2600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; GA; IA; IL; IN; KY; MD; MI; MN; NC; NY; OH; PA; TN; VA; WI; WV; ON
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[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Plants of Jeffersonia diphylla were used medicinally by Native Americans for treatment of dropsy, gravel and urinary ailments, and for gall and diarrhea, and in poultices for sores and ulcers (D. E. Moermann 1986).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 3.
Parent taxa Berberidaceae > Jeffersonia
Synonyms Podophyllum diphyllum
Name authority (Linnaeus) Persoon: Syn. Pl. 1: 418. (1805)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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