#indian physic

[vandaliatraveler]

Bowman's root (Gillenia trifoliata), also known as Indian physic, is a perfectly stunning late spring perennial of Appalachia's upland woods, most often found at higher elevations. A member of the rose (Rosaceae) family, the plant has a long history of medicinal use, as both a laxative and emetic, first by Native Americans and then by white settlers. The trifoliate leaves are sharply toothed and alternate on red, branching stems. The white, star-shaped flowers have five sharply-flared petals of unequal length. A lover of partially sunny locations with dry to moist soil, Bowman's root is the perfect pollinator plant for a native wildflower garden and attracts skippers by the hordes, such as the silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) above.

Photos from a secluded spot along the Highland Scenic Highway in the Monongahela National Forest.

[continent-of-wild-endeavor]

I believe this is Gillenia trifoliata, also known as bowman’s root, Indian physic, or American ipecac. It apparently likes dry open woodlands with acidic soil, which fits where we saw it on the wildflower hike (in a power cut, on a slope, and in NC where basically all the soil is acidic). It could also be Gillenia stipulata and I just can’t quite seen any of the characteristic rounded stipules in these photos, but I doubt it. Otherwise the two species, which comprise the whole genus, are quite similar, and share their common names and medicinal uses. You can probably guess what one of those uses might be from the name “American ipecac”, and the rest you can google.