''Frasera caroliniensis'', commonly known as American columbo or yellow gentian, is a herbaceous perennial of the gentian family

Gentianaceae Gentianaceae is a family of flowering plants of 105 genera and about 1600 species. Etymology The family takes its name from the genus ''Gentiana'', named after the Illyrian king Gentius. Distribution Distribution is cosmopolitan (species), cosm ...

found in the deciduous forest of

Southern Ontario Southern Ontario is a Region, primary region of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. It is the most densely populated and southernmost region in Canada, with approximately 13.5 million people, approximately 36% o ...

and throughout the eastern and southeastern United States.Horn, N. C. 1997. An ecological study of ''Frasera caroliniensis''. '' Castanea, journal of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society''. 62(3): 185–193. It was previously known as ''Swertia caroliniensis''.

Description

American columbo is a

monocarpic Monocarpic plants are those that flower and set seeds only once, and then die. The term is derived from Greek (', "single" + , "fruit" or "grain"), and was first used by Alphonse de Candolle. Other terms with the same meaning are '' hapaxanth'' ...

perennial, meaning it flowers once after multiple seasons, and then dies. When it reaches the flowering stage, the 3 – 6 inch lanceolate leaves develop (usually in whorls of four) on a round elongated stem, and approximately 50 to 100 flowers will develop a

panicle In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...

, with the fruits maturing soon after. The flowers that it produces are about 1 inch in diameter and folious (tall and "spike"-like), green to yellow with purple speckles. It is a

perfect Perfect commonly refers to: * Perfection; completeness, and excellence * Perfect (grammar), a grammatical category in some languages Perfect may also refer to: Film and television * ''Perfect'' (1985 film), a romantic drama * ''Perfect'' (20 ...

and

complete flower Plant reproductive morphology is the study of the physical form and structure (the morphology) of those parts of plants directly or indirectly concerned with sexual reproduction. Among all living organisms, flowers, which are the reproductive st ...

, with four

stamens The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filamen ...

and two

carpels Gynoecium (; ; : gynoecia) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ...

. The oblong-shaped seed capsule has a brownish color and is about 1/2 inch long. The entire plant can reach heights over . Though it is monocarpic, the plant may live for up to 30 years before flowering. The roots of ''F. caroliniensis'' are a

taproot A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproot ...

system, with a thick and fleshy taproot, and in some ''Frasera'' species, this may be modified into a branched rhizome. The leaves of ''F. caroliensis'' are carried on stalks ("petiolate") and have a thick, waxy texture.

Other names

It is also known as American calumba, American colombo, Radix colombo americanae, Frasera Walteri, Frasera canadensis, faux colomo, meadowpride, pyramid-flower, pyramid-plant, Indian lettuce, yellow gentian, and ground-century.

Distribution and habitat

American columbo lives in dry upland areas, rocky woods, and areas with calcareous soil, though soil texture or other soil characteristics do not limit it. The species ranges from deciduous forest regions in southern Ontario, through southern Michigan, northern Indiana, southern Illinois, southern Missouri, southeast Oklahoma, southwestern Arkansas, and northern Louisiana.Threadgill, F. P., Baskin, M. T., Baskin, C. C. 1979. Geographical Ecology of ''Frasera caroliniensis''. ''Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club''. 106(3): 185–188.

Human importance

Medicinal uses for American columbo have mostly been rebutted. However, it was a common belief in the early 19th century that the root of the plant might be externally used for gangrene. It was also claimed to be useful in treating jaundice, scurvy, gout, and rabies. The dried root, which was official in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1880, is used as a simple tonic. Frasera caroliniensis is chiefly known as an occasional substitute for calumba root, or '' Jateorhiza palmata'', a native of Mozambique.

Ecology

Several tree species are associated with ''F. caroliniensis'', such as sweet-gum (''

Liquidambar styraciflua ''Liquidambar styraciflua'', commonly known as the American sweetgum among other names, is a deciduous tree in the genus ''Liquidambar'' native to warm temperate areas of eastern North America and tropical montane regions of Mexico and Central A ...

''), tulip tree (''

Liriodendron tulipifera ''Liriodendron tulipifera''—known as the tulip tree, American tulip tree, tulipwood, tuliptree, tulip poplar, whitewood, fiddletree, lynn-tree, hickory-poplar, and yellow-poplar—is the North American representative of the two-species genus ...

'') and pignut hickory (''

Carya glabra ''Carya glabra'', the pignut hickory, is a common, but not abundant species of hickory in the oak-hickory forest association in the Eastern United States and Canada. Other common names are pignut, sweet pignut, coast pignut hickory, smoothbark ...

''). Even more vines and

understory In forestry and ecology, understory (American English), or understorey (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), also known as underbrush or undergrowth, includes plant life growing beneath the Canopy (biology), forest ca ...

trees are associated with this species, such as eastern redbud (''

Cercis canadensis ''Cercis canadensis'', the eastern redbud, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, native to eastern North America from southern Michigan south to central Mexico, west to New Mexico. Species thrive as far west as California and as far north as ...

''), strawberry bush (''

Euonymus americanus ''Euonymus americanus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae. Common names include strawberry bush, American strawberry bush, bursting-heart, hearts-a-bustin, and hearts-bustin'-with-love. It is native to the eastern United ...

''), Japanese honeysuckle (''

Lonicera japonica ''Lonicera japonica'', known as Japanese honeysuckle and golden-and-silver honeysuckle, is a species of honeysuckle native to East Asia, including many parts of China. It is often grown as an ornamental plant, but has become an invasive species i ...

''), Virginia creeper (''

Parthenocissus quinquefolia ''Parthenocissus quinquefolia'', commonly known as Virginia creeper, woodbine, five-leaved ivy, or five-finger, is a species of flowering vine in the grape family Vitaceae. The species is native to eastern and central North America, with its r ...

'') and poison ivy (''

Toxicodendron radicans ''Toxicodendron radicans'', commonly known as eastern poison ivy or poison ivy, is a species of allergenic flowering plant. It has numerous subtaxons and forms both vines and shrubs. Despite its common name, it is not a true ivy, but rather a m ...

''). Herbs associated with the species include the prostrate ticktrefoil ('' Desmodium rotundifolium''), Christmas fern ('' Polystichum acrostichoides'') and ebony spleenwort (''

Asplenium platyneuron ''Asplenium platyneuron'' (syn. ''Asplenium ebeneum''), commonly known as ebony spleenwort or brownstem spleenwort, is a fern native to North America east of the Rocky Mountains. It takes its common name from its dark, reddish-brown, glossy sti ...

''). The canopy of trees that are associated with this species are important for its survival, though if the canopy becomes too dense the plant may not flower as well. When the plants do flower, they contain large

nectaries Nectar is a viscous, sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists, ...

, which aid in pollination.Threadgill, F. P., Baskin, M. T., Baskin, C. C. 1981. The ecological life cycle of Frasera caroliniensis, a long-lived monocarpic perennial. ''American Midland Naturalist''. 105(2): 277–289

Conservation

This species is endangered in Ontario and nationally in Canada. The most extreme limiting factor for this species is invasive plants that are heavily infesting its habitat. This may be attributed to its long life cycle, which would not allow the species to adapt to rapid changes in the environment, and therefore not survive long enough to disperse its seeds. Also, this species has a "seed dormancy" (prevention of germination until optimal environmental conditions are present), that can only be broken in typical spring conditions. Furthermore, deforestation can be extremely destructive to the plants, as they rely on the canopy provided by the trees. Conservation practices to manage these issues include leaving surrounding trees within , stimulating growth by cutting a small opening in the canopy, and draining overly flooded areas to provide clay-like soil.

References

External links

USDA Profile

Ontario Wildflowers
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5493722 Flora of Canada caroliniensis