Flower ID: IMG_5261.JPG-05-08-2023 Flower name (scientific): Sanguinaria canadensis Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) san-gwin-AR-ee-uh ka-na-DEN-sis Flower name (common): Bloodroot Family name (common): Poppy Family name (scientific): Papaveraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Derived from sanguinārius, pertaining to blood. Referring to the blood-red color of the root juice. Specific epithet: Of or referring to Canada. Common name origin: The juice of the plant root is blood-red in color. Flower description: Size: 1.0 to 2.3 inches (2.5 to 5.8 cm) Petal count: 8 is typical, 7 to 12. Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is simple and lobed Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, orbiculate-reniform to cordate-sagittate, mostly palmately 5-7-lobed (FNA) oval-orbicular (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to May Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, forests, streambanks, dry to mesic, semi shade to sun. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. The flowers of Jeffersonia diphylla (Twinleaf) have some similarity, and bloom about the same time, but the twin-leaf appearance of the leaves makes this species rather distinctive. In Wisconsin and Minnestota, Jeffersonia diphylla is a species of special concern. Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed the roots of this plant to improve the potency of various medicines. Both the fresh root and the boiled root were also used to yield a red dye (Smith, pp. 44, 78, 1923). The Meskwaki used the roots to relieve the pain from burns. They also prepared a red dye from the cooked root (Smith, pp. 234, 271-272, 1928). The Ojibwe used the red juice of this plant as a cure for sore throat, and also used the juice as a red dye for face paint for the medicine dance and when going to war (Smith, pp. 377-378, 426, 1932). The Potawatomi prepare an infusion which was used to treat diphtheria. They also use the juice with maple sugar as a lozenge to treat sore throat. Like the Menominee, Meskwaki, and Ojibwe, the Potawatomi also used the root to prepare a red dye, which was employed as a face paint to make clan identification designs (Smith, p. 66, 124, 1933). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym(s): Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU