Details Top

Internal ID UUID64404e0082251765907984
Scientific name Heuchera cylindrica
Authority Douglas
First published in Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 236 (1832)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Heuchera cylindrica, known as cylindrical alumroot, appears in ethnobotanical records of several Pacific Northwest peoples. The Cowlitz of western Washington brewed a summer‑collected leaf infusion to calm stomach upset and to ease occasional colds and sore throats (according to Moerman 1998). The Klamath of southern Oregon prepared a root decoction simmered about twenty minutes to treat diarrhoea and dysentery (also reported by Moerman 1998). The Okanagan (Syilx) peoples of southern British Columbia used the same leaf tea and applied a poultice of crushed fresh leaves to bruises or minor skin wounds, a practice noted by Turner et al. 1996. In each case the preparation relied on a distinct plant part—leaves for infusion or poultice, roots for decoction—highlighting the versatility of H. cylindrica in traditional health care.

Prepared as a mild leaf tea, the traditional Cowlitz method is simple: place one to two teaspoons (≈2–3 g) of dried H. cylindrica leaves into a cup (≈240 mL) of just‑boiled water, cover, and steep five to ten minutes before straining. The brew yields a pale‑green, lightly astringent beverage. For a stronger effect, up to three teaspoons may be used, but most users limit intake to two or three cups daily. Because the leaves contain tannins, pregnant or nursing people should avoid regular use, and anyone with a sensitivity to astringents should stop if stomach irritation occurs.

Chemical analyses of Heuchera cylindrica repeatedly reveal hydrolyzable tannins, especially gallotannins that give the plant its astringent quality, together with flavonol glycosides such as quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside and kaempferol‑3‑O‑rutinoside and phenolic acids like caffeic and gallic acid. Small amounts of mucilaginous polysaccharides in the leaves help coat irritated mucous membranes. These compounds plausibly account for the gastro‑protective and mild anti‑inflammatory effects noted in traditional uses.

Recent pharmacological assays have shown antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory activity in H. cylindrica extracts, supporting the traditional claims. A few small‑batch herbal suppliers in the Pacific Northwest now sell dried leaf tea under names such as “Alumroot tea,” and local foraging guides still list the plant as a stomach remedy. Indigenous knowledge holders continue to share these practices, and collaborative research helps preserve the cultural heritage tied to H. cylindrica. Ongoing investigations are exploring the flavonoid profile for potential antimicrobial applications, though commercial products remain limited.

General Uses Top

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Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Yamala cylindrica Raf. Fl. Tellur. 2: 75 (1837)
Heuchera saxicola E.E.Nelson Bot. Gaz. 30: 118 (1900)
Heuchera glabella Torr. & A.Gray Fl. N. Amer. 1: 581 (1840)
Heuchera ovalifolia var. orbicularis Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 143 (1936)
Heuchera ovalifolia var. alpina Rosend. Beibl. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 83: 81 (1905)
Heuchera alpina Blank. Sci. Stud. Montana Coll. Agric., Bot. 1: 62 (1905)
Heuchera cylindrica var. orbicularis (Rosend., Lakela & Lakela) Calder & Savile Brittonia 11: 58 (1959)
Heuchera columbiana Rydb. N. Amer. Fl. 22: 116 (1905)
Heuchera suksdorfii Rydb. N. Amer. Fl. 22: 116 (1905)
Heuchera glabella var. suksdorfii (Rydb.) Rosend. Beibl. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 83: 81 (1905)
Heuchera suksdorfii f. ribesoides Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 147 (1936)
Heuchera cylindrica f. valida Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 138 (1936)
Heuchera cylindrica var. alpina S.Watson Botany [Fortieth Parallel] : 96 (1871)
Heuchera cylindrica var. glabella Wheelock Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 17: 203 (1890)
Heuchera cylindrica var. ovalifolia Wheelock Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 17: 203 (1890)
Heuchera cylindrica var. septentrionalis Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 138 (1936)
Heuchera ovalifolia var. thompsonii Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 144 (1936)
Heuchera glabella var. columbiana (Rydb.) Piper Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 11: 321 (1906)
Heuchera cylindrica var. suksdorfii (Rydb.) Dorn Vasc. Pl. Wyoming 300 (1988):.
Heuchera suksdorfii f. sandbergui Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 148. 1936 Mon. Gen. Heuchera
Heuchera suksdorfii f. typica Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 146. 1936 Mon. Gen. Heuchera
Heuchera cylindrica var. typica Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 135. 1936 Mon. Gen. Heuchera
Heuchera ovalifolia var. typica Rosend., Butters & Lakela Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 143. 1936 Mon. Gen. Heuchera
Heuchera ovalifolia Nutt. Fl. N. Amer. 1: 581 (1840)
Holochloa cylindrica (Douglas) Nutt. Fl. N. Amer. 1: 580 (1840)
Holochloa elata Nutt. Fl. N. Amer. 1: 580 (1840)
Holochloa glabra Nutt. Fl. N. Amer. 1: 581 (1840)
Holochloa ovalifolia Nutt. Fl. N. Amer. 1: 581 (1840)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English roundleaf alumroot
English poker alumroot
Arabic هوشرية أسطوانية
Persian برگگیلاسی استوانهای
Swedish axalunrot
Chinese 塔顶矾根

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment.
Requires Light or Surface Sowing: These seeds need light to germinate and should not be covered with soil or only very lightly. They are often very small and sown directly on the surface of the growing medium.
better germination if seed is stored for 2 years

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Northern America
    • Northwestern U.S.A.
      • Idaho
      • Montana
      • Oregon
      • Washington
      • Wyoming
    • Southwestern U.S.A.
      • California
      • Nevada
    • Western Canada
      • Alberta
      • British Columbia

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0001135487
Canadensys 9236
USDA Plants HECY2
Tropicos 29100344
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30006012-2
The Plant List tro-29100344
Missouri Botanical Garden 286885
Open Tree Of Life 98712
NCBI Taxonomy 370361
Nature Serve 2.147101
IPNI 30006012-2
iNaturalist 77403
GBIF 3032670
EOL 583091
Calflora (Californian flora) 9133
USDA GRIN 448173
Wikipedia Heuchera_cylindrica
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:278187-2
NCBI Taxonomy 1573210
IPNI 278187-2
GBIF 3753006
CMAUP NPO26352
PFAF Heuchera cylindrica

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Phenol ethers / Anisoles
1,2,3-Trimethoxybenzene 12462 Click to see COC1=C(C(=CC=C1)OC)OC 168.19 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Arylnaphthalene lignans
Phyllamyricin E 477161 Click to see 394.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80151-1
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins
(2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,12aS,14aR,14bR)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-8a-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxycarbonyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid 21635582 Click to see 957.10 unknown via CMAUP database
(2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,12aS,14aR,14bR)-8a-carboxy-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid 101923141 Click to see 795.00 unknown via CMAUP database
[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl] (4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,12aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-3-oxo-4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylate 11803947 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OCC3C(C(C(C(O3)OC(=O)C45CCC6(C(=CCC7C6(CCC8C7(CCC(C8(C)C)O)C)C)C4CC(C(=O)C5)(C)C)C)O)O)O)CO)O)O)O 941.10 unknown via CMAUP database
[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl] (4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,12aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-3-oxo-4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylate 10819773 Click to see 983.10 unknown via CMAUP database
Calenduloside E 176079 Click to see 632.80 unknown via CMAUP database
chikusetsusaponin IV 10079497 Click to see 927.10 unknown via CMAUP database
Chikusetsusaponin Iva 13909684 Click to see 795.00 unknown via CMAUP database
Glycoside ST-J 101720880 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OCC3C(C(C(C(O3)OC(=O)C45CCC(CC4C6=CCC7C8(CCC(C(C8CCC7(C6(CC5)C)C)(C)C)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)C(=O)O)O)O)O)C)(C)C)O)O)O)CO)O)O)O 1103.20 unknown via CMAUP database
methyl (2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,12aS,14aR,14bR)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-8a-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxycarbonyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane-2-carboxylate 21669007 Click to see 971.10 unknown via CMAUP database
Narcissiflorine 162878 Click to see 764.90 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(3R,4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,12aS)-3,10-dihydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12-dodecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid 101277261 Click to see 470.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(3R,4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,12aS)-3-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-10-oxo-3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,11,12-decahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid 101277260 Click to see CC1(CC2=C3C=CC4C5(CCC(=O)C(C5CCC4(C3(CCC2(CC1O)C(=O)O)C)C)(C)C)C)C 468.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(3R,4R,4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,12aS)-3,4,10-trihydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12-dodecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid 16112781 Click to see 486.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(4aR,5R,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-5-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-10-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid 15379012 Click to see CC1(CCC2(C(C1)C3=CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2O)C)C)(C)C)OC6C(C(C(CO6)O)O)O)C)C(=O)O)C 604.80 unknown via CMAUP database
(4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,12aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-3-oxo-4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-dodecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid 102239749 Click to see 470.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aS)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-3-oxo-4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12-decahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid 16112782 Click to see 468.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid 10395290 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)OC6C(C(C(CO6)O)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C(=O)O)C 751.00 unknown via CMAUP database
[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl] (4aR,6aR,6bS,8aR,10R,12aS,14bS)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-3-oxo-4,5,6,7,8,8a,10,11,12,14b-decahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylate 10605857 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OCC3C(C(C(C(O3)OC(=O)C45CCC6(C(=CC=C7C6(CCC8C7(CCC(C8(C)C)O)C)C)C4CC(C(=O)C5)(C)C)C)O)O)O)CO)O)O)O 939.10 unknown via CMAUP database
[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl] (4aR,6aR,6bS,8aR,12aS,14bS)-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-3,10-dioxo-1,4,5,6,7,8,8a,11,12,14b-decahydropicene-4a-carboxylate 10748397 Click to see 937.10 unknown via CMAUP database
asperosaponin C 13878127 Click to see 588.80 unknown via CMAUP database
Papyriogenin A 3081523 Click to see CC1(CC2=C3C=CC4C5(CCC(=O)C(C5CCC4(C3(CCC2(CC1=O)C(=O)O)C)C)(C)C)C)C 466.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Papyriogenin C 3081568 Click to see 468.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
Sitogluside 5742590 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Cyclic ketones / Cyclohexenones
(4aR,6aR,6bS,14aR,14bS)-4,4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-2,4a,5,6,7,8,12,14a-octahydro-1H-picene-3,10-dione 102588576 Click to see 420.60 unknown via CMAUP database
3alpha-Hydroxy-28-noroleana-11,13(18),17(22)-triene-21-one 102588575 Click to see CC1(CC2=C3C=CC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CCC2=CC1=O)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 422.60 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans
1-Benzofuran-5-carbaldehyde 2773875 Click to see C1=CC2=C(C=CO2)C=C1C=O 146.14 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Lactones / Beta propiolactones
(1S,2R,5R,7R,10S,11R,18S,19S,22S)-7,18-dihydroxy-1,2,6,6,10,17,17-heptamethyl-20-oxahexacyclo[12.10.0.02,11.05,10.015,22.019,22]tetracosa-12,14-dien-21-one 101967008 Click to see 468.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 3,4-dihydrocoumarins
Dihydrocoumarin 660 Click to see 148.16 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamyl alcohols
3-Phenylprop-2-En-1-Ol 308 Click to see 134.17 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives
Coumarin 323 Click to see 146.14 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
3,7,4'-Tri-O-Acetyl Kaempferol 44584293 Click to see 412.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Kaempferol 5280863 Click to see 286.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-[(2S,3S,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 92448962 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O 508.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1139/B76-230
Afzelin 5316673 Click to see 432.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Astragalin 5282102 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
kaempferol 7-O-(2-E-p-coumaroyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside) 11678667 Click to see 578.50 unknown via CMAUP database
kaempferol 7-O-(2,3-di-E-p-coumaroyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside) 11607311 Click to see 724.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins
1,2,6-Tri-O-Galloyl-Beta-D-Glucose 440308 Click to see 636.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80151-1
1,2,6-Trigalloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose 3357644 Click to see 636.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80151-1
3,4,6-tri-O-galloyl-beta-d-glucose 14188641 Click to see 636.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(88)80151-1

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