Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Blue Cohosh	Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx.	Barberry (Berberidaceae)	Woodland	Spring
Other names and notes	(Papoose-root, Squaw-root) The sepals of the flowers are of green to purplish color appearing in a branched terminal cluster. The petals are actually tiny, appearing at the base of the 6 much longer sepals. The entire flower is very small - only 3/8" to 1/2" wide. The leaves are divided into 3 egg shaped leaflets that when mature have several prominent lobes at the top - usually 3 but up to 5. The plants can be from one to over two feet high on erect smooth stems. "Blue" refers to the color of the fruit which forms in early summer and stays on the plant till the following spring unless eaten. Fruit color is first green but darkens over the summer into blue and by late fall and early spring, if still present, is quite striking. The leaves rise from above the middle of the stem which is the key for the genus name that is taken from two Greek words that together mean "stem leaves". See notes below for lore.


The pale flowers of early spring.	Well developed fruit of August

Above: The unusual twisted stem of the emerging plant. Below: Flower of mid-April to early May - the small petals appear at the base of the much longer sepals and all together no more than 1/2" wide. Far Below: Maturing fruit in late July.	Above: The full height stems with unfolding leaves somewhat resemble the peony plant at this stage. Note the tight flower bud cluster already formed. Immediate Below: A pleasant sight on an early spring walk is to find these blue berries from last autumn in contrast to the brown background. Photo April 3, 2009.

Notes: After introducing it to the Garden in Sept., 1909 with a plant obtained in what is now Minnehaha Park, Eloise Butler added another on April 18, 1910 from the same source and 3 on May 22, 1912 from Mound MN. This plant was listed on Martha Crone's 1951 inventory of plants in the Garden at that time. She noted in her log of planting it in 1935 and 1936. The 1935 planting is interesting as the plants were delivered by Gertrude Cram and the two were robbed shortly thereafter. It is native to most of the wooded counties in Minnesota thus excluding the far NW and the tilled counties of the very south and the far SW.

Medicinal lore: There is a fair amount of information in the references about this plant. The medicinal part is the root which is a rhizome. The autumn berries however, can be roasted and boiled in water, giving a decoction that resembles coffee. The root can be boiled to make a decoction or dried and then finely powdered to mix with alcohol to make a tincture. It is said to be successfully used to treat rheumatism, dropsy, epilepsy, hysteria and uterine inflammation. Native uses also are reported for the relief of cramps in menstrual periods and to relieve pain in childbirth. Blue Cohosh is also mentioned as ingredient in a number of other medicinal preparations. In Minnesota, Densmore recorded usage among the Chippewa for lung trouble and cramps. At the time of her research (published 1922-23) the plant was listed in the National Formulary. See Densmore, Grieve and Hutchins for more information.

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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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