Goodyera oblongifolia - Rattlesnake-plantain
Family: Orchidaceae - Orchid Family [E-flora]
"Goodyera oblongifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
It is hardy to zone (UK) 7. It is in flower in August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)
USDA hardiness zone : 6-9
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from slender rhizomes and thickened roots; stems 20-40 cm tall, with bracts, lacking leaves, glandular-hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Dry to moist, mossy forests in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common throughout BC, south of 56 degrees N; N to AK, E to PQ, NB and NS and S to ME, MI, WI, NE, NM, AZ and CA. N. America - Quebec to British Columbia, New Hampshire, Michigan, Arizona and California." [IFBC-E-flora]Status: Native [E-flora]
Edible Uses
- Gum
- An exudation from the plant is used as a chewing gum[105, 161, 177]." [PFAF]
Medicinal Uses
- Leaves
- Poultice: A poultice of the softened leaves has been applied to cuts and sores[257]." [PFAF]
- Antirheumatic - Infusion of leaves used in the bathwater of sprinters and canoers as a liniment for stiff muscles.[1 [UMD-Eth] An infusion of the leaves has been used in the bath water for treating stiff muscles[257]." [PFAF]
-
Plant
- Tonic: An infusion of the plants has been used as a tonic[257]." [PFAF]
- Gynecological Aid: Plant chewed by women before and at the time of childbirth.[1] Leaves chewed prenatally to determine the sex of a baby and to insure an easy delivery.[2] [UMD-Eth] If they could swallow the leaves, the baby would be a girl, if not, a boy. [Peterson- Med]
- Plant chewed at childbirth to ease confinement. [3] [UMD-Eth]
Propagation
Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[200]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move. Division is best carried out in the spring[230]. Each division should have a leading point and two, or preferably three, joints of the rhizome[230]. More propagating material can be obtained by cutting halfway through the rhizome during the previous growing season at the point where you wish to divide[230]. This will stimulate the production of growth buds at the point of division[230]." [PFAF]
Cultivation
Requires a somewhat shady site and a well-drained compost of peat, leafmold and sand[1]. Does well in the woodland garden[42, 230]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it is suitable for cultivation in a cool greenhouse or, perhaps, for a select position outdoors[1]. It is closely related to the British native species G. repens[230]. Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[230]." [PFAF]
Synonyms
- Goodyera decipiens. (Hook.)Hubbard. [E-flora]
- Goodyera menziesii. Lindl. [E-flora]
- Peramium decipiens. [E-flora]
- Peramium menziesii. [E-flora]
References
- [E-flora] Goodyera oblongifolia, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Goodyera%20oblongifolia&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2013. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia (eflora.bc.ca). Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
- Illustrated Flora of B.C., Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, D.V. Meidinger, and J. Pojar, Volume 1-8, .C. Ministry. Environment, Lands and Parks and B.C. Ministry of Forests. Victoria, 1998-2002. Publication
- [USDA-E-flora] U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Database. http://plants.usda.gov .
- Goodyera Oblongifolia,http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Goodyera+oblongifolia, Accessed July 1, 2014
- [1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- [42]Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs.
- [43]Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany.
- [105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- [161]Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237.
- [177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.
- [200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- [230]Cribb. P. & Bailes. C. Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
- [257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany
- [270] Flora of N. America
- [UMD-Eth]
- [1] Perry, F. 1952 Ethno-Botany of the Indians in the Interior of British Columbia. Museum and Art Notes 2
- [2] Turner, Nancy J., Laurence C. Thompson and M. Terry Thompson et al. 1990 Thompson Ethnobotany: Knowledge and Usage of Plants by the Thompson Indians of British Columbia. Victoria. Royal British Columbia Museum
- [3] Steedman, E.V. 1928 The Ethnobotany of the Thompson Indians of British Columbia. SI-BAE Annual Report
- [4] Turner, Nancy Chapman and Marcus A. M. Bell 1971 The Ethnobotany of the Coast Salish Indians of Vancouver Island, I and II. Economic Botany
Goodyera Sp.
"About 100 species of Goodyera have been formally described." [Wiki]
Local Species;
- Goodyera oblongifolia - rattlesnake-plantain [E-flora]
- Goodyera repens - dwarf rattlesnake orchid [E-flora]
References
- [Wiki] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodyera, Accessed July 1, 2023
Goodyera repens - Dwarf rattlesnake orchid
"Goodyera repens is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is hardy to zone (UK) 6. It is in flower from Jul to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Humble bees.The plant is not self-fertile. USDA hardiness zone : 5-9 Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from slender rhizomes; stems 10-25 cm tall, with bracts, lacking leaves, glandular-hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
Habitat / Range
"Dry to moist, mossy forests in the steppe and montane zones; frequent throughout C and E BC; circumpolar, N to AK and YT, E to NF and S to ME, MA, PA, SC, IN, WI, MN, SD, NM and AZ; Eurasia." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Locally in pine woods, rarely under birch or on moist fixed dunes in northern Britain[17]. Europe, including Britain, Scandanavia south and east to the Pyrenees, Siberia, Japan and Himalayas." [PFAF]
Medicinal Uses
- Leaves "A cold infusion of the leaves has been used to improve the appetite and also in the treatment of colds and kidney problems[257]. A poultice of the wilted leaves has been used to 'draw out burns'[257]. The infusion can be held in the mouth as a treatment for toothache[257]." [PFAF]
- Root & Leaves "The root and the leaves have been used in the treatment of bladder problems[257]. The roots and the leaves have been used in the treatment of stomach problems and female disorders[257]." [PFAF]
- Snakebite "A poultice of the chewed leaves, and the swallowed juice, has been used in the treatment of snake bites[257]." [PFAF]
- Juice "The plant ooze has been used as drops to treat sore eyes[257]." [PFAF]
Propagation
"Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[200]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move." [PFAF]
Cultivation
"Requires a somewhat shady site and a well-drained compost of peat, leafmold and sand[1]. Does well in the woodland garden[42, 230]. Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[230]." [PFAF]
Synonyms
- Goodyera ophioides (Fern.) Rydb. [E-flora]
- Goodyera repens subsp. ophioides (Fernald) A. L÷ve & Simon [E-flora]
- Goodyera repens var. ophioides Fernald [E-flora]
- Peramium ophioides (Fern.) Rydb. [E-flora]
References
- [E-flora] Goodyera repens, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Goodyera%20repens&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2013. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia (eflora.bc.ca). Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
- Illustrated Flora of B.C., Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, D.V. Meidinger, and J. Pojar, Volume 1-8, .C. Ministry. Environment, Lands and Parks and B.C. Ministry of Forests. Victoria, 1998-2002. Publication
- [USDA-E-flora] U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Database. http://plants.usda.gov .
- [PFAF] Goodyera repens http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Goodyera+repens Accessed July 1, 2014
- [1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- [17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
- [42]Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs.
- [200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- [230]Cribb. P. & Bailes. C. Hardy Orchids. Orchids for the Garden and Frost-free Greenhouse.
- [257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany