Practical
Plants

Coptis trifolia

Goldthread

a perennial evergreen member of the Coptis genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Coptis
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been found for this species, it belongs to a family that contains many species that are mildly toxic and so it is wise to treat this plant with some caution.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is said to be eaten[2][4], or it can be mixed with sassafras-root bark and Irish moss and brewed into a kind of herbal root beer[5]. This plant contributes a bitter flavour and a yellow colour to the beverage[5]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Goldenthread is a very bitter tasting herb that was formerly highly valued and widely used in North America by the native Indians and white settlers alike, though it is little used in modern herbalism[11]. It was employed mainly to treat any soreness in the mouth[11]. The dried roots, stems and leaves are antiphlogistic, highly astringent, sedative, stomachic, tonic[12][8][13][15][7][10]. The plant is valued as a local application in the treatment of thrush in children[12]. It is also used in the treatment of ulcerated mouths and as a gargle for sore throats or mouths[8][13][15][7][9]. It is said to be useful in the treatment of dyspepsia and helpful in combating the drink habit[12]. The plant contains the alkaloid 'berberine', which is a mild sedative[9], anti-inflammatory and antibacterial[10]. The root is collected in the autumn and dried for later use[9].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and stems[7]. Can be grown as a ground cover plant in the peat garden[6].

Product or use
Dye

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
N. America, E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat
Coniferous woods and sphagnum moors[14]. Dark swamps and dense forests in N. America[9].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in an ericaceous compost[3]. Seal the pot in a polythene bag until germination takes place, which is usually within 1 - 6 months at 10°c[3]. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible. Four weeks cold stratification may be beneficial[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in mid-autumn or in spring. Division in spring[6].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a light moist humus-rich slightly acidic soil with a northerly aspect or light shade[1][6]. A very ornamental plant[1]. The sub-species C. trifolia groenlandica (Syn C. groenlandica) is the form used medicinally in N. America[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  9. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  12. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  15. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page