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white snakeroot

Scientific Name: Ageratina altissima var. angustata

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

White snakeroot, scientifically known as Ageratina altissima, is a perennial herb with a history of causing illness in both animals and humans. It is native to North America and belongs to the Asteraceae family.

Common Names

  • White Snakeroot
  • Richweed
  • White Sanicle
  • Tall Boneset

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Ageratina altissima
  • Family: Asteraceae (also known as the Composite or Aster Family)
  • Synonyms:
    • Eupatorium rugosum Houtt. (formerly known as)
    • Eupatorium urticifolium
    • Eupatorium altissima

Considerations for Pets

  • White snakeroot contains the toxin tremetol, making it poisonous if consumed.
  • It can be toxic to livestock, including horses and goats, causing illness and potentially death.
  • The plant is toxic year-round, with poisonings typically occurring in the summer and late fall.

Considerations for Children

  • White snakeroot contains the toxin tremetol, making it poisonous if consumed.
  • Historically, milk from cattle that consumed white snakeroot was known to cause "milk sickness" in humans.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to North America.
  • Naturalized throughout southern Canada and the eastern half of the United States.
  • Common in woodland areas, shaded pastures, woods, and thickets, especially near streams.
  • Prefers rich, moist soil.

Ecological Role

  • Can be problematic in pastures and woodland areas due to its toxicity to livestock.
  • Spreads by rhizomes and seeds, potentially forming dense patches.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Erect, branched, herbaceous perennial.
  • Typically 1 to 5 feet (0.3 to 1.5 meters) tall.
  • Slender, round, green stems and branches, glabrous or short-hairy.
  • Opposite, simple, stalked, ovate leaves, 2.5 to 6 inches long and 1 to 5 inches wide.
  • Many 1 to 2-inch flat clusters of small white flower heads with no petals bloom from August to September.
  • Grows from fibrous, matted roots and may have short rhizomes.
  • Some cultivars, such as 'Chocolate', have maroon-brown leaves and deep purple stems.

Quirky Facts

  • The name "snakeroot" comes from the early settlers' belief that it could treat snakebites, despite its toxicity.
  • White snakeroot was responsible for killing thousands of people in the Midwest and eastern United States in the 18th and 19th centuries due to "milk sickness".
  • Historically, it has been used medicinally to bring a person out of a faint or stupor.

Further Information

  • W. J. Beal Botanical Garden
  • Crocus (for purchasing 'Chocolate' variety)