Plant (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family, native throughout eastern and midwestern North America, growing mainly in deciduous woodlands and blooming in early spring. The white, cup-shaped flower with bright yellow stamens in the centre is borne on a reddish stalk. Large, veiny, half-opened leaves on red stalks enfold the flower stem and, after the flower has bloomed, open into multilobed, round, blue-green leaves. The orange-red sap, once used by American Indians for dye, is found in the rhizomes, as is the medical alkaloid sanguinarine. The species, particularly the variety S. canadensis ‘Multiplex,' which has showy double flowers, is an interesting plant for the wild garden.

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Puccoon [peːkɔːn] is a common name that refers to any of several plants formerly used by certain Native Americans for dyes. The dyes were made from the plants' roots.

The name is derived from the Powhatan word poughkone.

Types

• Hoary Puccoon - Lithospermum canescens
• Narrow-leaved puccoon, Fringed Puccoon - Lithospermum incisum
• Golden puccoon - Lithospermum carolinense
• Hairy puccoon - Lithospermum carolinense var. croceum
• Red puccoon root, Canada Puccoon - Sanguinaria canadensis

References

See also

• Pokeweed
• List of English words from indigenous languages of the Americas#Words from Algonquian languages

External links