Transcript White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum Houtt.)

White Snakeroot
(Eupatorium rugosum Houtt.)
Family: Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ay) From the Latin
aster, a star, in reference to the shape of the aster
(daisy) family flowers. Formerly Compositae.
Genus: Eupatorium (yoo-puh-TOR-ee-um) From the
Greek name Mithridates VI Eupator (132 – 63 B.C.),
King of Pontus about 115BC, enemy of Rome in Asia
Minor, who is said to have discovered an antidote to
a commonly used poison in one of the species.
Species: rugosum (roo-GO-sum) Means wrinkled.
White Snakeroot
The white snakeroot is a member of the
composite family. This plant commonly
grows to heights more than 1m on
erect, herbaceous, single or multiple
stems with many hairs. It is native to
Canada and can be found east of post
36 as the trail leaves the large clearing.
It is closely related to boneset.
White Snakeroot
The leaves are opposite,
with petioles around
4cm long. They are
heart-shaped near the
petiole with fuzzy hairs
(especially in groove).
The toothed leaves are
deep greenish to purple
above and light green
below and are
approximately 12cm long
and 8cm wide with some
hairs above and below,
mostly on veins.
White Snakeroot
The terminal flat inflorescence is comprised of a
number of heads, each with 15+ small white
flowers. The corollas are white, 5-lobed, with
white filaments and white to pale yellowish
anthers.
White Snakeroot
In the fall, each dry fruit, containing the
seeds, bears a number of white hairs.
White Snakeroot
This plant is very toxic if eaten in quantity as it
contains barium sulphate. Dairy farmers are
careful to eradicate this plant as cows which
graze on it produce poisonous milk. A number
of pioneers died from snakeroot poisoning in
the milk before they realized the cause.
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Despite its toxic nature, 1st Nations people
used a tea made from the roots to help diarrhea,
painful urination, fevers, and kidney stones.
They also burned the plant and used the smoke
to revive unconscious people.
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