Flower ID: IMG_1231.JPG-07-20-2017 Flower name (scientific): Ageratina altissima (Linnaeus) R. M. King & H. Robinson PY: 1970. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ad-jur-uh-TY-nuh al-TISS-ih-muh Flower name (common): White Snakeroot Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Based on the Greek ageratos, not ageing, reflecting the long duration that the flowers retain their color. Specific epithet: Tall or highest, referring to the plant height. Common name origin: From the flower color and the supposed belief that a poultice prepared from the roots could cure snakebites. Flower description: Size: Small, about 1/6 inch (4 mm). Multiple heads of 12 to 25 flowers, 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) forming flat clusters. Petal count: 5-parted disc flowers, with no ray florets present, and about 10 to 30 disc florets. Color: White Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: To around 60 inches (1.5 m). Stem hairy: puberulent. Other: The plant is poisonous, and has led to milk sickness: humans drinking milk from cows that have eaten this plant. Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple. Size: Leaves are 5 to around 18 cm long and 2.5 to 10 cm wide, with a pointed tip. Color: Upper surface is dark green and the lower surface is a lighter green. Hairy: Leave are glabrous. Other: Sharply toothed. Shape: leaf, usually deltate-ovate to ovate or broadly lanceolate, sometimes ovate-lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native, potentially invasive. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Very common in Putnam Park. Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, thickets, disturbed sites, shade or part shade, moderate moisture to slightly dry. Fruit: Achenes are brown or brownish-black, 5-angled and up to about 3 mm long. Seed: Black with a whitish colored feathery appendage to help seed dispersal in the wind. Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower. Similar species (if any): The Eupatorium species E. serotinum, E. altissimum, and E. perfoliatum have a vague resemblance, but the leaf shapes of these three species are different from those of Ageratina altissima. Ethnobotany: A decoction of the roots supposedly used by Native Americans as a snakebite remedy. The common name arises from this imagined usage. The Meskwaki employed this plant as a diaphoretic, utilized as a steaming agent in the sweat bath. The Meskwaki also used this plant as a reviver. In the following reference Smith uses a different spelling for the synonym Eupatorium urticifolium for this plant (Smith, p. 214, 1928). The Cherokee and Iroquois used this plant for various medicinal purposes including as an antidiarrheal, diuretic, gynecological aid, and as a veneral aid (Moerman, p. 54, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NB, NS, NT, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Ageratina ageratoides Spach, Batschia nivea Moench, Eupatorium ageratoides L. f., Eupatorium altissimum (L.) L., Eupatorium urticifolium Reichard, Kyrstenia altissima (L.) Greene Basionym: Ageratum altissimum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 839. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 8 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists no heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym:Ageratina altissima (Linnaeus) R. M. King & H. Robinson var. altissima (The other infraspecific is Ageratina altissima var.angustata (A. Gray) Clewell & Wooten. This has been recorded from six central southern US states.) Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU