Achlys triphylla, with the common names deer foot, vanilla leaf,[3] or sweet after death, is a plant species native to the mountains of the West Coast of North America.
Description
Achlys triphylla is an herb up to 50 centimetres (20in) tall.[3] It grows in patches of paired stalks, one topped by a leaf, the other a flower spike.[3] The leaf is trifoliate, with leaflets up to 10cm (4in) long; the middle leaflet has 3–5 or exceptionally 8 teeth.[3] The dried leaves smell like vanilla.[3]
Blooming from April to June, the flower spike is up to 5cm (2in) long, with small flowers lacking petals and sepals, but including 6–13 white stamens.[3]
The paired stalks
Immature flower spike
Mature flowers
Similar species
The species resembles A.californica, which has 6–8 (up to 12) teeth on the middle leaflet.[3]
Multiple Pacific Northwest tribes use the leaves in an infusion drink for tuberculosis. One Lummi informant said the whole plant was mashed and soaked in water, which was drunk as an emetic.[6]
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