• Species At-Risk


    For the benefit of the plant communities, wild animals, harvesters, farmers, consumers, manufacturers, retailers and practitioners, we offer this list of wild medicinal plants which we feel are currently most sensitive to the impact of human activities. Our intent is to assure the increasing abundance of the medicinal plants which are currently in decline due to expanding popularity and shrinking habitat and range. UpS is not asking for a moratorium on the use of these herbs. Rather, we are initiating programs designed to preserve these important wild medicinal plants.


    “At-Risk” List
    American Ginseng - Panax quinquefolius
    Black Cohosh - Actaea racemosa (Cimicifuga)
    Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis
    Blue Cohosh - Caulophyllum thalictroides
    Echinacea - Echinacea spp.
    Eyebright - Euphrasia spp.
    False Unicorn Root - Chamaelirium luteum
    Goldenseal - Hydrastis canadensis
    Lady’s Slipper Orchid - Cypripedium spp.
    Lomatium - Lomatium dissectum
    Osha - Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.
    Peyote - Lophophora williamsii
    Sandalwood - Santalum spp. (Hawaii only)
    Slippery Elm - Ulmus rubra
    Sundew - Drosera spp.
    Trillium, Beth Root -Trillium spp.
    True Unicorn - Aletris farinosa
    Venus’ Fly Trap - Dionaea muscipula
    Virginina Snakeroot - Aristolochia serpentaria
    Wild Yam - Dioscorea villosa, D. spp.
    “To-Watch” List
    Arnica - Arnica spp.
    Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa
    Cascara Sagrada - Frangula purshiana (Rhamnus)
    Chaparro - Casatela emoryi
    Elephant Tree - Bursera microphylla
    Gentian - Gentiana spp.
    Goldthread - Coptis spp.
    Kava Kava - Piper methysticum (Hawaii only)
    Lobelia - Lobelia spp.
    Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum pendatum
    Mayapple - Podophyllum peltatum
    Oregon Grape - Mahonia spp.
    Partridge Berry - Mitchella repens
    Pink Root - Spigelia marilandica
    Pipsissewa - Chimaphila umbellata
    Spikenard - Aralia racemosa, A. californica
    Stone Root - Collinsonia canadensis
    Stream Orchid - Epipactis gigantea
    Turkey Corn - Dicentra canadensis
    White Sage - Salvia apiana
    Wild Indigo - Baptisia tinctoria
    Yerba Mansa - Anemopsis californica
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    This plant sponsored by Herb Pharm - http://www.herb-pharm.com/

    Historical Background

    Goldenseal is the rhizome and rootlets of Hydrastis canadensis. In commerce the herb typically ranks as one of the most widely used herbs in the North American market and is second in only to wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in commercial importance in the native North American ...
    Article Preview

    This plant sponsored by Equinox Botanicals - http://www.equinoxbotanicals.com/

    Historical Background

    Wars have been fought over ginseng, and emperors have monopolized the right to harvest it. Although I often hear claims that Chinese ginseng is superior, the Chinese themselves have imported large amounts of American ginseng since 1718, when the Jesuits of Canada first initiated ...

    These slides provide a visual guide to the purpose, projects and people who make up United Plant Savers. Through beautiful photos of “at risk” medicinal plants, we hope to increase appreciation of these special plants and awareness about plant conservation.

    Click here to view the UpS At-Risk Presentation.


UNITED PLANT SAVERS : PO Box 400, East Barre, Vermont 05649
Tel. (802) 476-6467 | Fax. (802) 476-3722 | Email: office@UnitedPlantSavers.org