Redroot [Greek lachne, wool, and anthos, flower, in reference to pubescent flowers]

Rhizomes reddish, roots fibrous. Stems erect; sap red. Leaves mostly basal, some cauline, reduced; blade linear-ensiform. Inflorescences: bracts conspicuous, subtending each flower. Flowers: tepals glabrous adaxially; stamens 3, longer than tepals; ovary inferior, 3-locular; ovules ca. 6 per locule, arranged around margin of peltate, stipitate, axile placenta. Capsules 3-lobed. Seeds discoid, peltate, few per locule.

Species 1: North America, West Indies.

Lower Taxon

• Lachnanthes caroliniana (Lamarck) Dandy