Hydrastis

(hi-drastis.) [From Gr. hydōr.] (Bot.) A gen. of the O. Ranunculaceæ, consisting of only one species, H. Can a dens is, an herbaceous perennial, found in damp places in woods, in the Northern States and Canada, where it is called Yellow Puccoon, Orange root, or Canadian Yellow-root. Its thick yellow underground stem, or root as it is more frequently called, was formerly employed by the American aborigines for dyeing a bright yellow color. It has a strong narcotic 4 odor, with a bitter pungent taste, and po e es tonic properties. [s. 469]