Lachnanthes caroliniana (Lam.) Dandy

Carolina Redroot

Herb

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Vascular

Carolina Redroot is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bloodwort family (Haemodoraceae). It is the only member of this family in Alabama. The approximately 14 other species in this family are found in Mexico, Central America, northern South America, southern Africa, New Guinea, Australia. Carolina Redroot is found primarily in the southern third of Alabama, with a disjunct population located in northeast Alabama. It occurs in pitcher plant bogs, wet pine woodlands, sandy ditches, and savannas. Carolina Redroot is a fibrous rooted perennial with long red rhizomes. The leaves are mostly basal and ensiform (shaped like a sword blade) in outline with entire margins. The plants when not in flower resemble an Iris or some species of Rush (Juncus). The sap is red in color. Flowering stems are up to 2 feet in height. Stem leaves are similar to basal leaves but reduced in size. The stems are densely pubescent. The inflorescence is a terminal, many branched corymb that after flowering has branches that resemble helicoid cymes. Each flower is subtended by conspicuous bracts. Flowers have three short white tepals and three longer pale yellow tepals that are densely pubescent on the outside. There are three stamens that are longer than the tepals. The fruit is a capsule.--A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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