White Snakeroot

Native distribution

Native to the Finger Lakes Region

Cultivation

A 3-5' tall plant with white flowers that spreads rapidly in rich woodlands.
Light: shade to part sun
Moisture and Soil: dry to moist rich soil

Propagation

Seed Treatment and Storage: store seed cool & dry; Cold/moist stratify OR sow at 70 deg. F.

Biocultural value

The Cherokee used snakeroot as an antidiarrheal, diuretic, febrifuge, stimulant, and tonic, while the Haudenosaunee used it as a cathartic, diaphoretic, and remedy for venereal disease. Both the Chickasaw and Choctaw employed snakewort roots as a toothache remedy. The Meskwaki used the plant as a stimulant and diaphoretic.

Wildlife value

White snakeroot flowers attract a variety of insects, including leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees, wasps, various flies (Syrphid, Tachinid, bee flies, & others), butterflies, and moths. Deer and other mammalian herbivores avoid snakeroot foliage.

Poisonous

yes

Poisonous description

Humans have historically been poisoned by white snakeroot after drinking milk from cows that had eaten the plant ("milk sickness"). Cases of milk sickness are now rare except when one family uses raw milk from family cows that have grazed on the plant. The applicable toxin, tremetol, produces weakness, followed by loss of appetite, stomach pains, vomiting, constipation, thirst, trembling, delirium, coma, and death.

Location

Mundy Wildflower Garden, Coy Glen, Edwards Lake Cliffs Preserve, Fischer Old-growth Forest, McLean Bogs, Ringwood Ponds

Status

L4|S5|G5