Sanicula marilandica
Sanicula marilandica Maryland sanicle


Maryland sanicle is a perennial herb native to North America typically found in moist forests in rich, well-drained soils or limestone slopes. Both basal and stem leaves are palmately compound with 5 or occasionally 7 leaflets. Sometimes, the pair of leaflets closest to the base may be deeply cleft, creating the appearance of having 7 leaflets instead of 5. Each leaflet is up 6″ long and to 2″ wide, coarsely toothed and normally widest above the middle The basal leaves are on long stalks, reaching up to 6″, while the stalks of the cauline leaves become progressively shorter as they ascend the stem.
Small greenish-white flowers appear in clusters at tops of branching stems. Each inflorescence contains 1 to 5 compound umbels at the end of a stem. Each umbel is supported by a pair of three-lobed leaf-like bracts. Each primary umbel branches into 2 to 4 secondary umbels (umbelletes). The umbellets usually have have 12 to 25 flowers, rarely number of flowers may reach 100 to 120. Most umbelletes have 1 to 4 (most often 3) perfect (male and female) flowers (the rest being male), and some will have only male flowers. Male flowers are on 1⁄16 to ⅛″ stalks and rise above the perfect flowers that are stalkless. Each umbellete is supported by several toothed bractlets (3 to 9).
The fruits are dry, nearly oval and like in other sanicles, are covered with hooked bristles. These bristles allow the fruits to attach to furs of passing animals, ensureing seed dispersal.
The tannin in this plant accounts for its use as an astringent.
Habitat & Range
Grows in moist woods, bogs & wooded limestone slopes. Part to full shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Present throughout the state.
Range: From Newfounland south to Florida, west to Washington and British Columbia.
EMP: | FACU |
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NCNE: | FACU |
Phenology
Flowers June to early August.
Characteristics
Inflorescence on top of stem; contains 1 to 5 compound umbels subtended by pair of 3-lobed bracts; umbel branches into 2 to 4 umbellets, each ray is up to 1″ long; umbellete contains 12-25 flowers on average, rarely goes up to 100-120
Flowers greenish-white with greenish-white (when young) anthers; perfect or staminate; 5 petals, 5 sepals, petals just slightly longer than the sepals; stamens extend above corolla and have greenish-white anthers when young turning brown with age
perfect flowers nearly sessile, 2 long spreading (becomeing arching at maturity) styles, small ovary covered with hooked bristles
staminate flowers 1⁄16 to ⅛″ stalks, rise above perfect flowers (if there are such in the umbellete)
Leaves palmately compound, basal and cauline, with 5 or sometimes 7 leaflets;
basal leaves petioles up to 6″ long
cauline leaves alternate; lower leaves are on longer petioles (stalks), stalks reduce up to the stem to almost stalkless leaves
leaflets 6″ long, 2″ wide; glabrous; coarsely serrate or deeply incised; cuneate
Stems erect, multiple, glabrous, each branching closer to top
Fruit ovoid, dry, sessile or almost sessile; covered with hooked bristles; ⅙″ long; splits into 2 seeds; the 2 arching styles remain on the fruit
Rhizome thick, horizontal; produces new shoots along its length
Height 1 to 4 feet
Special Characters
Compound leaves may have 7 leaflets, other sanicles have no more than 5.
Plant Codes
S-rank: S5 (Secure)
G-rank: G5 (Secure)
Medicinal Qualities
Native Americans used this plant to treat fever and various skin conditions. White settlers used the root to induce vomiting to expel poison.
Faunal Associations
The main pollinators are small insects such as bees, flies and beetles.