Triosteum

Read about Triosteum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Triosteum (name shortened by Linnaeus from Triosteospermum, which is from Greek for three bony seeds). Caprifoliaceae , Feverwort. Horse Gentian. Coarse hardy perennial herbs, glabrous or glandular-pilose: sts. rather simple, terete: lvs. opposite, sessile, rather fiddle-shaped or obovate, entire: fls. usually axillary, solitary or clustered, dirty white, yellow, or purple; calyx-tube ovoid, limb 5-lobed, persistent; corolla tubular-campanulate, base of tube gibbous, limb oblique, lobes unequal; stamens 5; disk small, swollen; ovary 3-5-celled: berry fleshy or leathery, 2 (rarely 3-5)-celled, 2-3-seeded. — About 8 species, N. Amer., Himalayas, and China. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Triosetum
Triosteum perfoliatum
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Dipsacales Family: Caprifoliaceae Genus: Triosetum

Triosteum, commonly known as horse gentian or, less commonly, feverwort, is a genus of flowering plant which includes six species. It is in the Caprifoliaceae family.

It is a perennial plant which has an erect, round, hairy, fistular stem, 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2m) high, opposite ovate-lanceolate entire leaves, and axillary whorls of brownish-purplish flowers. It is a native of North America, occurring in rich woods from Canada to Alabama and west to Iowa. Its dried and roasted berries have been occasionally used as a substitute for coffee; but it is chiefly valued for its medicinal properties, its root acting as an emetic and mild cathartic. It is sometimes called Tinker's root, being named after Dr. Tinker, who first brought it to notice.[1]

External links

• Tinker's root