Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy)
Other names: blood root, bloodwort, coon root, Indian paint, turmeric, paucon, red pucoon, red root, snakebite, king root, sweet slumber, tetterwort
Name meaning: The name bloodroot refers to the red juice found in this plant, which is somewhat blood-like in its color and consistency. The Latin name Sanguinaria means "bleeding", again refering to the red juice. Canadensis means "from Canada"; this name is applied to bloodroot because it is found in Canada, though of course its range includes much of the US as well.
Origin: Bloodroot is native to the eastern half of North America.
Range: Bloodroot is found from Quebec south to Florida and west to Texas and the Dakotas. It is also cultivated for its flowers many places outside its native range.
Habitat: rich, moist woods
Life cycle: Perennial
Description: Bloodroot is a small, herbaceous woodland plant that grows in colonies. The flowers, which bloom in early spring, have 8-10 long, narrow petals and a yellow center, and they open in sun and close up at night. The petals are so delicate that they usually fall within a few days of blooming. The leaves are round with large, shallow lobes and a heart-shaped base, and are usually paired with single flowers. The leaves uncurl and lay flat in the sun, and curl up around the flower stem when it's cloudy and at night. In late spring a long narrow seedpod develops, which is orange in color, and when it's ripe it splits open and many seeds spill out. The leaves begin to wilt in early summer. The entire plant contains a red-orange juice, especially the roots. Bloodroot usually only grows to 6 inches or so.
Similar plants: S. canadensis is the only species in the Sanguinaria genus. However, you may confuse bloodroot with twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), which though unrelated, has similar flowers. Twinleaf can be distininguished by its leaves, which are divided into two large triangular lobes.

Uses

Edible: None. This plant is poisonous (see warning below).

Medicinal: The root has been used as an appetite stimulant, emetic, diuretic, purgative, expectorant, sedative, and emmenagogue, and for indigestion, asthma, bronchitis, croup, scrofula, and dysentary, and was once an ingredient in cough medicine. Native Americans used the root tea for rheumatism, asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis, fevers, sore throats, and lung ailments, and as an emetic. The root juice has been used externally for warts, eczema, ringworm, fungal infections, skin tumors, nose polyps, and ulcers. Experiments show that the main chemical, sanguinarine, has anti-cancer properties. Sanguinarine is used commercially, in products such as toothpaste and mouthwash due to its anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis properties.

Utilitarian: The root juice makes an orange dye which was used by Native Americans and colonists alike, and was found to be high quality by commercial dyers. Native Americans also used it to make red body paint. The juice has also been used as an insect repellent.

Magical: The root is carried to attract love or to protect against evil, and placed near doorways and windows to protect the home. Ponca men would cover their hand in bloodroot juice and shake hands with the woman they wished to marry, which ensured that she would agree to marry him. Some Natives used the root in divination. Red paint made from the root juice, usually made by mixing with animal fat, was used as body paint for ceremonies and war parties by many Native tribes. Interestingly, I've read that the reason Natives are called "red" is not because of skin tone but because of the red body paint they were often observed wearing in the early days of European exploration, so it may be that bloodroot is responsible for the notion of Native Americans as "the red man".

Warning: POISONOUS—This plant is now known to be toxic, and its internal use is not recommended. The FDA has officially declared this plant unsafe for medicinal use. If taken internally, it can cause vomiting, vertigo, and dim eyesight, among other things. External use is probably also unsafe because the main chemical, sanguinarine, is known to be an escharotic, meaning that it kills tissue. External use should be avoided, or at the very least, the juice should be diluted.

Where to find bloodroot

Because this plant is toxic, there aren't many safe uses, which is good since it's rather rare, and in some places endangered. However, it does make a rather lovely garden plant. If you want to grow bloodroot, please do not transplant it from the wild. You can buy it in many gardening stores, and the seeds are for sale online on many sites. It prefers partial shade and moist soil. If you do wish to use the root for some purpose, it should be gathered in the fall, and stored in a dry place.

Links

Wikipedia: Bloodroot
Gay Gardener Online: Bloodroot
Cornell Poisonous Plants (scroll down to Sanguinaria canadensis)
Botanical.com: Bloodroot
Wild Flowers of Minnesota's Iron Range: Bloodroot
Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States: Bloodroot
Wildflowers of North Carolina: Bloodroot
Plants for a Future: Sanguinaria canadensis
King's American Dispensatory: Sanguinaria
Nature's Herbal: Bloodroot
HerbNet: A-B Herbs (scroll down to bloodroot)
Herbs 2000: Bloodroot
Capricorn's Lair: Bloodroot
USDA Plant Profile: Sanguinaria canadensis