ˈyellow-root
(Also as two words.)
Name for two N. American ranunculaceous plants, the one a herb, Hydrastis canadensis, of Canada and Northern U.S. (Canadian yellow-root, goldenseal, or yellow puccoon), the other a sub-shrub, Xanthorrhiza apiifolia, of Southern U.S. (shrub yellow-root), or for their roots, which yield yellow dyes, and are used in medicine as tonics.
| 1796 Nemnich Polygl.-Lex. 944 Yellow root, Hydrastis canadensis. 1814 F. Pursh Plants N. Amer. Ind. 712 Yellow Root, Zantorrhiza. 1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. 13 Zanthorhiza. Shrub Yellow-root. 1866 Treas. Bot. 605 Yellow Puccoon, Orange root, or Canadian Yellow root. 1876 Harley Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 781 Yellow Root is an article of the United States Pharmacopœia. |