Gillenia stipulata – American Ipecacuanha

Description

Gillenia stilpulata

(Porteranthus stipulatus) American Ipecacuanha. In most respects this is a very similar plant to Indian Physic, having the same growth habit and flowers and a requirment for a lime free soil that stays moist all year but drains well (though it has good drought resistance when fully established and will take a stony soil). The flowers are white, rarely tinged pink, with a red calyx in lovely loose terminal sprays just like G.trifoliata but the leaves are distinctly divided and much more feathery than its cousin.

From the South Eastern United States rather than the North East and consequently a little less hardy (though still quite hardy). Resents root disturbance. The name stipulata refers to the two very large leaf bracts at the base of each leaf which can give the appearance of the leaf having 5 rather than 3 leaflets.

Indian Physic

The roots are bitter, called Indian physic, and were popular with the American Indians who used it as an emetic. It was later adopted by the white settlers and used for the same purpose, even being listed as an official pharmaceutical product until 1880. Native to North America it grows in rich woodland soils in partial shade. It will crisp in the blazing heat of midday sun, so allow adequate shade to prevent the buds aborting.

American Ipecacuanha.

Ipecacuanha is the South American Vomiting root (Cephaelis). This was popular in the 17th Century onwards to treat dysentery, having been discovered in Brazil and then brought to Europe  It was used early on to treat members of the French Royal Court. Later in the 18th Century Thomas Dover incorporated it with opium in his celebrated powder. It was discovered to contain 2 powerful alkaloids, one of which had efficacy against amoebic  (and not bacillary) dysentery. It was later abandoned on account of its toxicity.