(Also as two words.) Name for two N. American ranunculaceous plants, the one an herb, Hydrastis canadensis, of Canada and Northern U.S. (Canadian yellow-root, goldenseal, or yellow puccoon), the other a sub-shrub, Xanthorrhiza apiifolia, of Southern U.S. (shrub yellowroot), or for their roots, which yield yellow dyes, and are used in medicine as tonics.
1796. Nemnich, Polygl.-Lex., 944. Yellow root, Hydrastis canadensis.
1814. Pursh, Plants N. Amer., Ind. 712. Yellow Root, Zantorrhiza.
1856. A. Gray, Man. Bot., 13. Zanthorhiza. Shrub Yellow-root.
1866. Treas. Bot., 605. Yellow Puccoon, Orange root, or Canadian Yellow root.
1876. Harley, Mat. Med. (ed. 6), 781. Yellow Root is an article of the United States Pharmacopœia.
