Coptis trifolia (Linnaeus) Salisbury. Common name: Goldthread, Goldenroot, Three-leaved Goldthread. Phenology: Apr-Jun. Habitat: Bogs, northern hardwood forests. Distribution: Greenland west to AK, south to NJ, nw. NC, n. IN, IA, and BC; e. Asia. Coptis had been reported for NC by many floras (for instance, C, F, G, and S), but the documentation was unknown; its presence in NC was confirmed by P. McMillan.
ID notes: The species is distinctive, with neatly trifoliolate leaves, small white flowers on scapes, and yellow roots.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Infrataxa have sometimes been recognized, with var. groenlandica in e. North America northeast to Greenland, and in southern parts of nw. North America; var. trifolia in Alaska and e. Asia (see synonymy). There seems to be no compelling morphological or molecular reasons to recognize infrataxa (Xiang et al. 2016).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, FNA3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, POWO, S, S13, Xiang et al (2016); = n/a — RAB, Tat; > Coptis groenlandica (Oeder) Fernald — F, WV; > Coptis trfolia ssp. trifolia — NS; > Coptis trifolia (L.) Salisb. ssp. groenlandica (Oeder) Hultén — G, NS; > Coptis trifolia (L.) Salisb. var. groenlandica (Oeder) Fassett — C. Basionym: Helleborus trifolius L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Coptis trifolia - FNA3
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Great Plains: FACW
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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© Arthur Haines | Original Image ⭷
© Arthur Haines | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Small, erect perennial with bright orange rhizomes, found in moist forests, bogs and swamp edges, often on mossy hummocks.
Stems: Stems are leafless, smooth flowering scapes that arise separately from leaves.
Leaves: Leaves basal, petiolate, evergreen and shiny, palmately divided into 3 oval or fan-shaped, toothed, smooth leaflets (1/2-1 in. long).
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flower solitary at top of naked scape, white, 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5-7 narrowly elliptic petal-like sepals surrounding a bushy cluster of white-tipped stamens and bright green styles with curled tips; alternating with the sepals are short, golden yellow, club-shaped petals with cup-shaped tips that hold nectar; the white sepals drop early.
Fruits: Fruit a candelabra-like array of 5-7 tiny, stalked pods, each with a long-tapering tip.
Comments:
Height: 3-6 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Small, erect perennial with bright orange rhizomes, found in moist forests, bogs and swamp edges, often on mossy hummocks.
stems: Stems are leafless, smooth flowering scapes that arise separately from leaves.
leaves: Leaves basal, petiolate, evergreen and shiny, palmately divided into 3 oval or fan-shaped, toothed, smooth leaflets (1/2-1 in. long).
inflorescence:
flowers: Flower solitary at top of naked scape, white, 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5-7 narrowly elliptic petal-like sepals surrounding a bushy cluster of white-tipped stamens and bright green styles with curled tips; alternating with the sepals are short, golden yellow, club-shaped petals with cup-shaped tips that hold nectar; the white sepals drop early.
fruits: Fruit a candelabra-like array of 5-7 tiny, stalked pods, each with a long-tapering tip.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
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