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:''This article is about a plant; for the town in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, see [[Sinnoh#Twinleaf Town|Twinleaf Town]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Jeffersonia''
| image = TwinleafBB.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Jeffersonia diphylla'' from Britton & Brown 1913
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Berberidaceae]]
| genus = '''''Jeffersonia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Benjamin Smith Barton|Barton]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''Jeffersonia diphylla''</br>
''Jeffersonia dubia''
}}
'''''Jeffersonia''''' which is also known as '''Twinleaf''' or '''Rheumatism root''', is a small [[genus]] of [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s in the family [[Berberidaceae]]. The two species are native to eastern [[Asia]] and eastern [[North America]]. They are uncommon spring wildflowers, which grow in [[limestone]] soils of rich woodland. ''Jeffersonia'' was named for [[United States]] [[President]] [[Thomas Jefferson]], by his contemporary [[Benjamin Smith Barton]].<ref >[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=116785 Flora of North America: Jeffersonia]</ref> This genus was formerly, incorrectly grouped in genus ''[[Podophyllum]]''. Twinleaf is protected by state laws as a threatened or endangered plant in Georgia, Iowa, New York, and New Jersey.<ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=JEDI USDA PLANTS Database: Jeffersonia]</ref>
== Description ==
The [[leaf|leaves]] and [[flower]]s of this [[plant]] are smooth and emerge directly from the base of the plant. ''Jeffersonia'' has showy white flowers with eight [[petals]]; the flower resembles [[Bloodroot]], a small [[poppy]]. The flower last only a short time after blooming in April or May, and gives way to a green pear-shaped capsule with a hinged top. The characteristic leaves are large and nearly divided in half, giving rise to its common name, Twinleaf. Plants in this genus rarely grow taller than 12 inches (30 cm).
== Species ==
*''Jeffersonia diphylla''. Eastern North America.
*''Jeffersonia dubia''. Manchuria, China.
== Uses ==
Though ''Jeffersonia'' is a poisonous plant, it has had a variety of medical uses throughout history. One of those uses is hinted at by an archaic common name of ''Jeffersonia diphylla'', Rheumatism root. The "[[root]]s" of both species contain [[berberine]], a known anti-tumor [[alkaloid]].
[[Image:Jeffersonia_diphylla.jpg|left|thumb|225px|A colony of ''Jeffersonia diphylla'']]
=== America ===
[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] utilized ''Jeffersonia diphylla'' for a variety of medicines. The [[Cherokee]] reportedly used an infusion of this plant for treating dropsy and urinary tract problems, it was also used as a poultice for sores and inflammation.<ref name="NAE">>[http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ Native American Ethnobotany Database by D. Moerman]</ref> The [[Iroquois]] used a decoction of the plant to treat [[liver]] problems and [[diarrhea]].<ref name="NAE" />
The whole plant was used in early American [[medicine]] as an antispasmodic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and general tonic. The "root" was once also used as an emetic in large doses, and as an expectorant in small doses.<ref>[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Jeffersonia+diphylla Plants for a Future Database: ''J. diphylla'']</ref> Modern medicine does not currently utilize this plant.
=== China ===
[[Traditional Chinese medicine]] uses ''Jeffersonia dubia'' for strengthening the [[stomach]] and bringing down fevers.<ref >[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Jeffersonia+dubia Plants for a Future Database: ''J. dubia'']</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Berberidaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Eastern United States]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Jeffersonia''
| image = TwinleafBB.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Jeffersonia diphylla'' from Britton & Brown 1913
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Berberidaceae]]
| genus = '''''Jeffersonia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Benjamin Smith Barton|Barton]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''Jeffersonia diphylla''</br>
''Jeffersonia dubia''
}}
'''''Jeffersonia''''' which is also known as '''Twinleaf''' or '''Rheumatism root''', is a small [[genus]] of [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s in the family [[Berberidaceae]]. The two species are native to eastern [[Asia]] and eastern [[North America]]. They are uncommon spring wildflowers, which grow in [[limestone]] soils of rich woodland. ''Jeffersonia'' was named for [[United States]] [[President]] [[Thomas Jefferson]], by his contemporary [[Benjamin Smith Barton]].<ref >[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=116785 Flora of North America: Jeffersonia]</ref> This genus was formerly, incorrectly grouped in genus ''[[Podophyllum]]''. Twinleaf is protected by state laws as a threatened or endangered plant in Georgia, Iowa, New York, and New Jersey.<ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=JEDI USDA PLANTS Database: Jeffersonia]</ref>
== Description ==
The [[leaf|leaves]] and [[flower]]s of this [[plant]] are smooth and emerge directly from the base of the plant. ''Jeffersonia'' has showy white flowers with eight [[petals]]; the flower resembles [[Bloodroot]], a small [[poppy]]. The flower last only a short time after blooming in April or May, and gives way to a green pear-shaped capsule with a hinged top. The characteristic leaves are large and nearly divided in half, giving rise to its common name, Twinleaf. Plants in this genus rarely grow taller than 12 inches (30 cm).
== Species ==
*''Jeffersonia diphylla''. Eastern North America.
*''Jeffersonia dubia''. Manchuria, China.
== Uses ==
Though ''Jeffersonia'' is a poisonous plant, it has had a variety of medical uses throughout history. One of those uses is hinted at by an archaic common name of ''Jeffersonia diphylla'', Rheumatism root. The "[[root]]s" of both species contain [[berberine]], a known anti-tumor [[alkaloid]].
[[Image:Jeffersonia_diphylla.jpg|left|thumb|225px|A colony of ''Jeffersonia diphylla'']]
=== America ===
[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] utilized ''Jeffersonia diphylla'' for a variety of medicines. The [[Cherokee]] reportedly used an infusion of this plant for treating dropsy and urinary tract problems, it was also used as a poultice for sores and inflammation.<ref name="NAE">>[http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ Native American Ethnobotany Database by D. Moerman]</ref> The [[Iroquois]] used a decoction of the plant to treat [[liver]] problems and [[diarrhea]].<ref name="NAE" />
The whole plant was used in early American [[medicine]] as an antispasmodic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and general tonic. The "root" was once also used as an emetic in large doses, and as an expectorant in small doses.<ref>[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Jeffersonia+diphylla Plants for a Future Database: ''J. diphylla'']</ref> Modern medicine does not currently utilize this plant.
=== China ===
[[Traditional Chinese medicine]] uses ''Jeffersonia dubia'' for strengthening the [[stomach]] and bringing down fevers.<ref >[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Jeffersonia+dubia Plants for a Future Database: ''J. dubia'']</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Berberidaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Eastern United States]]