Discover Top Posts Tagged with #xanthorhiza

63267.02 Xanthorhiza simplicissima, Acer palmatum, Rosa alba 'Queen of Denmark' by horticultural art https://flic.kr/p/2osgnr6

#IFTTT #Flickr #horticulturalart #xanthorhizasimplicissima #xanthorhiza #yellowroot #acerpalmatum #ac

Do you recognize these plants? Perhaps one, but you might consider knowing the other too.

Toxicodendron, a wide spread genera in North America with most of it’s associated species being creeping vines more or less that produce large quantities of urushiol, an organic molecule known for it’s viscosity and oil like qualities as well as it’s ability to cause contact dermatitis in certain individuals. It’s insoluble in water and soluble in alchohol but is often displaceable from skin when additional soap like compounds are used; meaning water immediately can aid in removing the urushiol, after long term contact soap in the form of fat based soap or plants with saponin presence like some legumes, soapworts, jewel weed, ect. can be useful for lifting the oil and re displacing it. Saponin’s are often associated with plants with some toxicity so ingestion is never recommended. Saponin and water to displace is only necessary after long term contact in many cases and usually water will do. I do not recommend ever using alchohol based products to “dry the site out” as it can make the oils spread and become difficult to wash off due to solubility.

Above the text is the most common species of Toxicodendron in the midwest and eastcoast and below the first three images is perhaps one of the only non related species with similar branching pattern and floral habit to the genera.

Toxicodendron radicans, Eastern Poison Ivy,

this species is associated with any place there is exposure, disturbance, or seral conditions. It’s an incredible native for beneficial interactions with birds in areas that are now municipal urban areas or waste sites/ abandon parking lots that are a bit similar to the concept of an ecological desert. If grown with minimal light spacing on the edge of a forest, it grows straight up the tree where alternation of generations occurs and it will bloom, never crowding out the canopy nor girdling the tree. It’s adventitious root system is capable of climbing on many surfaces and gives it a hairy look. The toxic tree with many radial roots is what it’s name means roughly translated. Though many members of the genera exhibit the radicans to some extent perhaps early taxonomists didn't think about the poison ivy / oak complex (now resolved for quite some time) prior to naming.

As far as I am concerned this species is critical for succession and urban diversity and really should be respected where it can be.

Shrub Yellowroot, Xanthorhiza simplicissima,

is a creeping shrub species of ericaceous sandy alluvium in dappled shaded regions along reclaimed broken bars, in a way these ecosystems are seral ecosystems where wild rivers have the potential to remove sections during any vernal flood season. As you can see the branching pattern, the oily sheen with almost dense pubescence and scarce pilose hairs, and the floral pendulate nature of the reduced flowers could give off some anacardiaceae vibes, however, this is one of the rare cases where we see a convergence of many traits such as a semi-woody to woody stem and apical forming leaf clusters where flowers subtend the leaves in the family of the ranunculaceae. Infact, the Clematis genera is the only genera outside of this one to produce greater lignified stems, and reduced petal morphology. As you know usually, ranunculaceae have many stamen associated with high overy count and numerous separate carpels; however, the aconites, larkspurs, and the columbines are much different from normal regular flowered Ranunculus spp. and are far from resembling cohosh too, so this family being associated so heavily to one genera is a bit of an issue. Another fun fact about some members of this family is their abilities to cause similar blistery rashes to that of our urushiol having friends in the Toxicodendron genera. For this species, when wounded or if the pilose hairs are ripped, enzymatic pathways are utilized as an evolved defense system. when exposed unstable ranunculin is broken down by enzymes to form both glucose and toxic irritant Protoanemonin. This however is not convergent evolution in truth because the leaf arrangements, floral morph, and chemical compound, aren’t truly dilineate or associated with extremely similar uses.

#toxicodendron #xanthorhiza #xanthorhiza simplicissima #toxicodendron radicans #botany #ecology #rrg #kentucky