Three-flowered Avens

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Globally secure (G5, N5 in Canada). In Ontario ranked S4 (Apparently Secure), concentrated in alvar and prairie remnants of the southern Shield and Great Lakes region. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Quebec populations are absent from VASCAN and NatureServe records.

S22 G5/N5/S4; S26 not SARA listed; S1 not native QC

Rarity Ranks

ON S4 – Apparently Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

A prairie and alvar specialist of dry, open habitats in Ontario. Found on sandy prairies, open oak-pine barrens, bluffs, thin soil over limestone alvars, and dry open woods. In Ontario, concentrated in the Carden Alvar region and Manitoulin Island on limestone substrates. Associates include Carex pensylvanica, Andropogon gerardii, Prunus pumila, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Vaccinium angustifolium in remnant prairie and savanna communities.

S7 Michigan Flora habitats; S48 Ontario specimen localities; S4 native habitat

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Fire Retardant, Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = Medium (not definitional)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

Notes

Excellent ground-cover forb for dry prairie and alvar restoration plantings. Juglone tolerance makes it valuable under black walnut. Forms dense mats in well-drained soils, stabilizing thin soils over limestone. Attractive ferny foliage and extended fruit display add ornamental value in designed landscapes.

S3 juglone tolerant; S4 dense mats, ground cover; S29 ground cover

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Analgesic, Antirheumatic, Blood Medicine, Cold Remedy, Cough Medicine, Dermatological Aid, Disinfectant, Eye Medicine, Febrifuge, Gynecological Aid, Oral Aid, Orthopedic Aid, Respiratory Aid, Throat Aid, Tonic, Veterinary Aid

S28 Moerman categories from Blackfoot, Okanagan-Colville, Thompson uses

Notes

Extensively used by Indigenous peoples of western North America. Blackfoot used root infusions for coughs, sore eyes, cankers, sore throats, and as a blood tonic; root-and-grease salves were applied to sores, rashes, and wounds. Okanagan-Colville used root infusions for colds, fevers, flu, and gynecological complaints. Thompson peoples used root decoctions and sweatbath preparations for pain, rheumatism, and stiff muscles. 35 documented ethnobotanical uses across these nations.

S28 35 Moerman uses across Blackfoot, Okanagan-Colville, Thompson

Edibility & Foraging

ℹ

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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✅ Edible   

Foraging Notes

Roots are boiled and drunk as a tea substitute by Thompson peoples, described as tasting like weak sassafras tea. The brew was also used in sweat houses as a body wash. USDA lists Palatable Human=Yes, but culinary use is limited to beverage preparation.

S28 Thompson Food=Beverage; S29 tea substitute, weak sassafras flavor

Toxicity

△ Low Toxicity

Not listed in Cornell poisonous plants database. USDA Toxicity=None. PFAF reports no known hazards. However, OWSL notes that the plant may cause skin rashes in some individuals, suggesting possible mild contact dermatitis from trichomes or plant compounds.

S38 not listed; S11 Toxicity=None; S29 None known; S3 skin rashes noted

Seed Source

• Localeaf
• OWSL