Geocaulon lividum : Bastard Toadflax

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Santalaceae (Sandalwood Family)

Genera: Geocaulon (Northern Comandra) (Gk. geo=earth + caulis=a stalk or stem; referring to the extensive underground stems of this species)

Species: lividum (Lat. lividus=blueish and/or blackish; probably referring to the dark calyx)

Synonym(s): Comandra livida

English Name(s):

Bastard Toadflax, Dogberry, Northern Comandra

First Nation Names:

Description:

Perennial herbacious plants

Flowers lacking petals but with petal-like sepals.

Flowers perfect (bisexual) or imperfect (unisexual).

Stamens (male parts) equal same number as the sepals: 4-5. Style (female part) 1.

Fruit is a 1 seeded, fleshy or dry drupe.

Natural History:

Even though they have chlorophyll and so can photosythesize thier own food, many members of this family are parasitic. Including both species in Yukon.

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 30

Species: 400

North America:

Genera: 5

Species: ?

Yukon:

Genera: 2

Species: 2

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Structure:

• From extensive, creeping, subterraneanrhizomes (underground stems).
• Stems erect or ascending,10-30cm tall, glabrous (hairless).

Leaves:

• 15-44mm long, elliptic to lanceolate in shape.
• Often veins becoming yellow with age.
• On short petiole (stalk).

Reproductive Parts:

• Caylix with no petals. Sepals 5, petal-like, 1.0-1.5mm long.
• Cymes of 2-4 flowers. Usually only the middle flower is fertile.
• Flowers, small, perfect (bisexual) in axillary (from leaf axils) cyme.

Seed:

• Fruit round, 5-8mm long, orange maturing red and edible.

Not to Be Confused With:

Physiology:

• This species is parasitic on other plants. It attaches its roots to the roots of other plants. It has a variety of hosts including Arctostahpylos and Aster species.

Life Cycle:

• perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Flowers bloom in the spring and produce fruit by early July.
• Stems deciduous (dieing back).

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Mossy to dry sites from tundra to woodland. Spruce and poplar forests.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

• The berries of this plant are edible though not very palatable.

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Chewed leaves were used as a poultice or used in a decoction that was taken to induce vomiting and to clear the bowels.
• Fruit are chewed raw or an infusion of the roots is taken as a remedy for stomach troubles, sore throats, TB, and other ailments.

Food: