English: Yellowroot; Shrub Yellow Root.
Synonym: Xanthorrhiza apifolia; Xanthorhiza apifolia.
Genus: 1 species.
Region: eastern United States, Maine to Florida, Ohio to Texas.
Habitat: stream banks, moist woods, thickets, rocky ledges; in sandy, moist, light, fertile, acid soil; prefers shade, in sun or part shade, under a canopy of dappled sunlight; tolerates frost; from sea level to 1200 metres.
Content: berberine.
Culture: endangered in Florida.
Ecology: greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of plants, legumes.
Use: roots for yellow dye; medicinal; ornamental as a hardy deciduous ground cover.
BotanySubshrub; 20 to 70 to 100 cm tall; propagates by underground runners.
Root: yellow
Stem: woody; simple, unbranched; 6 mm diameter.
Leaves: deciduous; spirally; 10 to 18 cm long; divided into 5 toothed leaflets,
Inflorescence: broad panicles; on the upper portion of the stem; 6 to 20 cm long.
Flowers: small; star-shaped; reddish brown to purple brown; petals 5.