Gillenia trifoliata

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Gillenia_trifoliata.jpg

| genus = Gillenia

| species = trifoliata

| authority = (L.) Moench

| synonyms =

• Porteranthus trifoliatus (L.) Britton
• Spiraea trifoliata L.

| synonyms_ref = {{GRIN | accessdate = 25 January 2018}}

}}

Gillenia trifoliata, common name Bowman's root or Indian physic, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae, native to eastern North America from Ontario to Georgia. It is an erect herbaceous perennial growing to {{convert|100|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall by {{convert|60|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide, with three lobed palmate leaves and pale pink flowers with narrow petals and reddish calyces above red coloured stems in spring and summer.{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}} Its habitat includes dry to moist upland woods and rocky banks.{{Cite web |title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin |url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=gitr6 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.wildflower.org}}

In cultivation, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web|title=Gillenia trifoliata AGM|url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/7989/Gillenia-trifoliata/Details |work=RHS Plant Finder|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society|access-date=14 July 2020}}{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 43 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate = 2 March 2018}} It is very hardy to {{convert|-20|C|F|abbr=on}} or lower, but requires a sheltered position in partial shade, with acid or neutral soil.

The root was dried and powdered by Native Americans and used as both a laxative and emetic.{{cite book |last1=Niering |first1=William A. |authorlink1=William Niering| last2=Olmstead |first2=Nancy C. |title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region |year=1985 |origyear=1979|publisher=Knopf |isbn=0-394-50432-1 |page=751}}