From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coptis
Coptis occidentalis flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Coptis Salisb.
Species
See text

Coptis (Goldthread or Canker Root) is a genus of between 10–15 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Asia and North America.

Species

Selected species

• Coptis aspleniifolia
• Coptis chinensis
• Coptis deltoidea
• Coptis groenlandica
• Coptis japonica - Huang lian in Chinese (Chinese: 黃連; pinyin: Huang lian)
• Coptis laciniata
• Coptis occidentalis
• Coptis omeiensis
• Coptis quinquefolia
• Coptis quinquesecta
• Coptis teeta
• Coptis trifolia

Coptis occidentalis fruit

Uses

Coptis teeta is used as a medicinal herb in the Himalayan regions of India, used as a bitter tonic for dyspepsia. It is also known to help insomnia in Chinese herbology. Made into a paste, salve, powder, or infusion, it is said to improve digestion, restore appetite, and relieve inflammation of the stomach. It is also employed to assist the treatment of alcoholism. The roots contain the bitter alkaloid berberine.

Coptis has a long history of use in treating cold sores, hence its other common name.

External links

Coptis aspleniifolia leaves

• Flora of North America: Coptis
• Flora of China: Coptis

From Wikispecies

Taxonavigation

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Ordo: Unassigned Eudicots
Ordo: Ranunculales
Familia: Ranunculaceae
Subfamilia: Coptidoideae
Tribus: Coptideae
Genus: Coptis
Sectio: C. subg. Coptis - C. subg. Metacoptis
Species: C. aspleniifolia - C. chinensis - C. deltoidea - C. japonica - C. laciniata - C. lutescens - C. minamitaniana - C. occidentalis - C. omeiensis - C. quinquefolia - C. quinquesecta - C. teeta - C. trifolia - C. trifoliolata

Name

Coptis Salisb., Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 8:305. 1807.

Type species: C. trifolia (L.) Salisb.

Synonyms

Heterotypic

• Chrysocoptis Nutt., J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 8. 1834.

References

• Farr, E. R. & Zijlstra, G. eds. (1996-) Index Nominum Genericorum (Plantarum). 2009 Nov 11 [1].

Vernacular names