Wild Quinine

Parthenium integrifolium Asteraceae

Other names

American Feverfew, Missouri Snake Root, Prarie Dock

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

Eastern North America

Biocultural value

Indigenous people used a medicinal tea brewed with the leaves and flowers to lower fevers by inducing perspiration.

Location

Houston and Grossman Ponds, Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Seneca Hill Perennials, Ambergate Gardens, Prairie Moon Nursery

Description

Perennial herb, 0.5-1m, simple or branched above. Leaves to 20x10cm, lanceolate-elliptic to broadly ovate, crenulate-serrate or sublyrate at base. Capitula to 10mm diameter, several, in a broad, flat-topped corymb. E US to Wisconsin & Arkansas.

USDA Hardiness Zone

3

Special characteristics

medicinal/pharmaceutical