Chamaelirium

Chamaelirium luteum can be found in temperate North America, United States and Canada. It occurs in the east of the Mississippi and it is historically known from southern Ontario. ==Etymology==

The etymology of Chamaelirium luteum comes from the Greek and means: chamai = "on the ground" and leirion = "lilly", and the Latin luteus = "yellow". ==Cultivation==

Because Chamaelirium luteum is normally collected wild, it is at risk of extinction. Cultivation techniques are still under development to satisfy the demand from the market. Site selection Chamaelirium luteum prefers moist, well drained and acidic soil (pH: 4.5 – 6) with a high humus content. In open fields it should be shaded by a shading structure, to protect it from the direct radiation of the sun. For forest cultivation it should be preferably planted in an area with tall hardwood trees. For propagation through seeds, the seeds should be sown in late Fall or early Winter to a depth of in breeding beds with high humus content. For a good germination the seed should go through stratification. The plants grow best in soil mixture of peat moss and decomposed pine needles. When the young plants emerge they should be left in undisturbed at least for one growing season. Then they can be transplanted as for the propagation method through root division. Maintenance The plant should be moist and shaded and protected from herbivory by snails and slugs or deer in woods. Weeds should always be removed. ==Uses==

Chamaelirium luteum is used as ornamental or medical herb. Historically it has been used widely by Indigenous peoples. It was traditionally used to prevent miscarriages and it has the reputation of improving fertility. Today it is used to treat menstrual problems, pregnancy complaints, fertility issues, ovarian cysts and diuretic The rhizomes can be harvested after six years and is done in Fall after collecting the mature seeds. After removing the soil and the roots from other plants, the rhizome should be stored unwashed until further processing. It should be prevented from drying out and also from too high moisture, which could lead to mold infestation. Before processing, the rhizome should be washed carefully. Bioactive components The bioactive components are a mixture of steroidal saponins, including chamaelirin and aglycone diosgenin. These bioactive substances act as an emmenagogue, diuretic and emetic. ==References==