White Snakeroot Eupatorium rugosum
Description:
The White Snakeroot is a member of the daisy family. The plant has many fibrous roots.
Leaf: The opposite leaves are large, heart-shaped, and
have long slender petioles. The sharply toothed leaves look somewhat crinkly
due to the veins.
Flower: It has broad clusters of tiny, snow-white
flowers growing from the axils of the upper leaves.
Blooming months: July-October
Stem: The
stem is sticky and branched at the top.
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Discussion:
In the 1900’s many pioneers died of milk sickness. One such notable victim was
Nancy Hanks Lincoln, who died of the “milk sickness” when her son, Abe was only
7. The pioneer woman, Dr. Anna Pierce, correctly identified White Snakeroot as
the cause of “trembles” in cows, and milk sickness in people who drank milk or
ate meat from these cows. Dr. Pierce urged the eradication of white snakeroot.
The toxicity of white snakeroot does, however, vary greatly according to region
and moisture.
Distribution: It grows at the edge of
the forest.
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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