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By Root 879 0

the plants are abundant in one bio-region and quite rare in another. Some of these herbs are widely used in commerce, others are not widely used. United Plant Savers is watching these herbs and collecting information on levels of commercial usage while monitoring the viability of these plants within their current range. We invite your participation in this project. Please feel free to report on the health of populations of these plants in your local area. Also, feel free to propose other medicinal plants that you feel are presently in decline due to expanding popularity and shrinking habitat and range.

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

Helonias Root (Chamaelirium luteum)

Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) Hawaii only

Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium spp.)

Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum)

Osha (Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.)

Partridge Berry, Squawvine (Mitchella repens)

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)

Sundew (Drosera spp.)

Trillium, Beth Root (Trillium spp.)

True Unicorn (Aletris farinosa)

Venus’ Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa, D. spp.)

TO-WATCH LIST

Arnica (Arnica spp.)

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Calamus (Acorus calamus)

Chaparro (Casatela emoryi)

Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla)

Eyebright (Euphrasia spp.)

Gentian (Gentiana spp.)

Goldthread (Coptis spp.)

Lobelia (Lobelia spp.)

Maidenhair Fern (Adiaantum pendatum)

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Oregon Grape (Mahonia spp.)

Pink Root (Spigelia marilaandica)

Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)

Spikenard (Aralia racemosa, A. californica)

Stone Root (Collinsonia canadensis)

Stream Orchid (Epipactis gigantea)

Turkey Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Virginia Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria)

White Sage (Salvia apiana)

Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californica)

The term “spp” in the context of this list means “all North American species in this genus.” We are using this category when there is reason to believe that through misidentification or intentional collection various species within the genus besides the officially recognized species are being utilized. We see this situation clearly when various species of Trillium are harvested to sell as “Beth Root,” or when various species of Echinacea are harvested as “Echinacea angustifolia.” We ask wildcrafters to consider the ecological impact of taking these herbs from the wild. Replanting in the wild, as well as careful stewarding of your collection areas, is of tantamount importance if the trade of wildcrafting is to continue. Although the herb may be abundant in your locality, it has probably already disappeared from other areas. You are the folks who have the best understanding of wild medicinal plants, and you can contribute greatly by providing seed and advising others on how to plant and grow these herbs. We ask manufacturers and consumers to assist in the conversion of these plants from wildcrafted sources to organically grown. If there is a demand for the wild herbs, then we will continue to lose them. If there is demand for cultivated herbs, then we create environmentally friendly jobs while saving the wild plants. Although it is an expensive proposition, the time is ripe to assure sustainability of the herbs we love. I would like to express my thanks to the hundreds of good folks who reviewed this list and gave their constructive comments: academics, herbalists, government workers, botanists, and lay enthusiasts. Your views were taken seriously, and by comparing the feedback of what is considered rare from your various bio-regions, we have been able to compile much information on which herbs need our help most urgently.

—Richo Cech, Horizon Herbs, UpS Board Member

United Plant Savers

P.O. Box 98

East Barre, VT 05649

Tel (802) 479-9825

Fax (802) 476-3722

Email: info@www.plantsavers.org

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