Lithospermum caroliniense

Lithospermum caroliniense, commonly known as the hairy puccoon or Carolina puccoon or Plains puccoon,[2] is a flowering plant found in the Midwestern United States and Canadian provinces surrounding the Great Lakes.[3] The plant grows in sandhills, pine barrens, and dry, sandy woods.[4]

Lithospermum caroliniense
In Nevada County, Arkansas

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Lithospermum
Species:
L. caroliniense
Binomial name
Lithospermum caroliniense

Description

edit

Dr. Robert W. Poole and Dr. Patricia Gentili describe the hairy puccoon as follows:[5]

Flowers large (up to 1 inch in diameter) yellow-orange with 5 petals and basal parts of petals fused into a long corolla tube. Stamens hidden in corolla tube. Flowers arranged in a flat-topped cluster or weakly curled, short sprays. Stem and leaves coarsely hairy. Leaves broadest in the middle, tapering at either end, and outer margin smooth. Plant 1 to 2.5 feet in height.

Cultivation and uses

edit

To cultivate Lithospermum caroliniense a warm sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained lime-free sandy soil is needed.

A red dye is obtained from the dried or pulverized roots. The powdered root has also been used in the treatment of chest wounds.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ NatureServe (2023). "Lithospermum caroliniense". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ^ "PLAINS PUCCOON". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  3. ^ United States Department of Agriculture
  4. ^ a b Plants for a Future
  5. ^ nearctica Archived 2008-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
edit