Lachnanthes
(from lachne, down, and anthos, a flower; in allusion to the woolly flowers). SYNS. Gyrotheca and Heritiera (of Gmelin, not of Aiton). Red-root. ORD. Haemodoraceae. A monotypic genus. The species is a half-hardy, marsh or aquatic, herbaceous perennial, the roots of which yield a red dye. It thrives in a peat and loam compost, and may be increased by dividing the roots, in spring.
L. tinctoria (dyer's). fl. dingy yellow, within loosely woolly, disposed in a dense, compound, terminal cyme. July. l. sword-shaped, clustered at the base, and scattered on the stem, which is hairy above. h. 1 1/2ft. Southern United States (in sandy swamps), 1812.