Colic Root

At a glance

Origin / distribution: US, ", US(Appalachia), French, German, Dutch

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Stomach), Colic, Diuretic, Purgative

Science studied: ALKALOIDS, DIOSGENIN, SAPONIN

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Liliaceae

Scientific name: Aletris farinosa

Common names: Colic Root, Star Grass, Unicorn Root, Agueroot, Crow Corn, Mealy Star Grass, Mealy Starwort, Colicroot, Crow-corn, Mealy Star-grass, True Unicorn, Unicorn-root, White Colicroot, White Star-grass, agueroot, alétris farineux, colicroot, crow-corn, mealy star-grass, mealy stargrass, mealy starwort

POWO: 319064-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in US, ", US(Appalachia), French, German, Dutch.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Stomach)
• Colic
• Diuretic
• Purgative
• Rheumatism
• Sedative
• Sore
• Stomachic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• US
• "
• US(Appalachia)
• French
• German
• Dutch

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Stomach)
• Colic
• Diuretic
• Purgative
• Rheumatism
• Sedative
• Sore
• Stomachic
• Tonic
• Stomach
• Ache(Back)
• Breast

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Ache(Stomach) · US · "
• Colic · " · "
• Colic · US · "
• Colic · US(Appalachia) · "
• Diuretic · US · "
• Diuretic · French · "
• Purgative · German · "
• Rheumatism · US(Appalachia) · "
• Sedative · US · "
• Sore · US · "
• Stomachic · US · "
• Stomachic · US(Appalachia) · "
• Tonic · US(Appalachia) · "
• Tonic · Dutch · "
• Stomach · " · "
• Ache(Back) · US · "
• Breast · US · "
• Diuretic · " · "
• Emetic · US · "
• Tonic · US · "
• Uterus · " · "
• Vermifuge · US · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Structure and absolute configuration of methyl (3R)-malonyl-(13S)-hydroxycheilanth-17-en-19-oate, a sesterterpene derivative from the roots of Aletris farinosa. · 2013 source ↗
• Biosynthetic insights provided by unusual sesterterpenes from the medicinal herb <i>Aletris farinosa</i>. · 2015 source ↗
• Aletris farinosa, Cyperus difformis, and Cyperus pilosus new for Florida. · 1985 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALKALOIDS
• DIOSGENIN
• SAPONIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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