Family Name: Orchidaceae
Botanical Name(s): Corallorhiza odontorhiza
Popular Name(s): Chicken's Toes, Crawley, Dragon's Claw, Fever
Root, Scaly Dragon's Claw, Turkey Claw
Parts Used: Root
Habitat: Coral root is native to America.
Description: Coral root is a perennial plant which grows to a
height of 10-20 cm. Its branched, coral-like underground rootstocks send
up simple scapes with sheaths instead of leaves. The terminal racemes
consist of 3 to 20 flowers. Their sepals are linear-lanceolate, 3 - 4.5
mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide and the petals are oblanceolate, about 4 mm long
and 1.5 mm wide.
Uses: Coral root is used as a diaphoretic, febrifuge and
sedative. It cures fevers, cramps and skin diseases. Tea prepared using
it can be used in insomnia. It is effective in flatulence too.
