Summary ⁴

Ageratina altissima, or white snakeroot, is a common, widespread plant native to much of eastern North America. The name "snakeroot" refers to a traditional use to cure snakebites. White snakeroot is toxic and when consumed by cattle their milk and meat become contaminated. Consuming these products can cause "milk sickness", which killed thousands of people in the early 19th century including the mother of Abraham Lincoln, Nancy Hanks Lincoln.

Wildlife Interactions ⁴

Because of its toxicity, most animals won't consume white snakeroot unless their options are severely limited. This has allowed snakeroot to thrive. Snakeroot blooms in abundance every fall, providing a great deal of nectar for bees, wasps, butterflies and moths.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Ronald Kielb, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/53874483@N03/5040978802
2. (c) Dan Mullen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/8583446@N05/3833871964/
3. (c) Dendroica cerulea, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/dendroica/6170853692/
4. (c) The Preserve at Shaker Village, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online
• 日本のレッドデータ検索システム
• 植物和名−学名インデックス YList

iNat Map