Culver’s-Root Veronicastrum virginicum
Description:
Culver’s-root is a native, warm-season, tall perennial herb, which
attains a height of up to one and one-half meters. It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae, figwort, or snapdragon family.
Leaf: The slender, sharp-toothed leaves occur in
whorls of
Flower: The fragrant, white tubular flowers are
many, but small and densely crowded. There may be up to nine flower heads on a
stem. The flower tubes have two projecting stamens.
Blooming months: July-August
Stem: The stem is tall and straight.
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Discussion:
Early medicinal uses dealt mainly with the digestive system. Its early
use as a physic lent itself to another common name, culver’s physic. Apparently
the root has cathartic (bowel cleansing) qualities.
Distribution:
In
Native
or Introduced to
Location:
N41048.677’ W089040.972’
Copyright:
© 2004 Nancy Trainor,
References:
Keller, Carolyn. Prairie Plants of
Ladd, Doug. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers, The Nature Conservancy, 1995.
Peterson, Roger Tory. Wildflowers Northeastern/North Central
Mohlenbroch, Robert H., and John W. Voigt. Prairie
Plants of
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