Achlys triphylla, common names sweet after death, deer-foot or vanilla-leaf, is a plant species native to the mountains of the West Coast of North America. It has been reported from the Cascades and from the Coast Ranges in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and northern California, at elevations of up to 1500 m (5000 feet).[3]
| Achlys triphylla | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Achlys triphylla (Rood Bridge Park, Hillsboro, Oregon) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Achlys |
| Species: | A. triphylla
|
| Binomial name | |
| Achlys triphylla (Sm.) DC.
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Leontice triphylla Smith in A. Rees | |
Achlys triphylla is an herb up to 40 cm (16 inches) tall. It has trifoliate leaves and small white flowers.[4][5]
Medicinal uses
editMultiple Pacific Northwest tribes use the leaves in an infusion drink for tuberculosis. One Lummi informant said the whole plant was mashed and soaked in water, which was drunk as an emetic.[6]
References
edit- ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Achlys triphylla". NatureServe Explorer Achlys triphylla. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ The Plant List
- ^ Flora of North America vol 3
- ^ Fukuda, I. 1967. The biosystematics of Achlys. Taxon 16: 308-316
- ^ Fukuda, I. and H.G. Baker. 1970. Achlys californica (Berberidaceae), a new species. Taxon 19: 341-344.
- ^ "Ethnobotany of Western Washington" by Erna Gunther. page 31
External links
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