Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0733.JPG-08-05-2018
Flower name (scientific): Eupatorium perfoliatum Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) yoo-puh-TOR-ee-um per-foh-lee-AH-tum
Flower name (common): Boneset
Family name (common): Aster
Family name (scientific): Asteraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Latin for Mithridates Eupator (c. 135 – 63 BCE), King of Pontus. Said to have discovered that one plant of this genus was a poison antidote or that he had found an antidote to one species of this genus that was poisonous.
    Specific epithet: From the Latin per for through and the Latin folium for leaf, referencing the stem appearing to pass through the connected leaves.
Common name origin: Refers to the belief that the leaves of the plant had medicinal value and could mend broken bones.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1.0 cm)
     Petal count: 5, for the individual disk flowers. There are no ray florets and about 9 - 23 disk florets.
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-flat
Plant description:
     Size: 36 to 48 inches (91 to 122 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to 20 cm long and 5 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, oblong (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): July to October
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Prairies, meadows, marshes, streambanks, pond margins, sun, wet to moderate moisture.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower.
Similar species (if any): Eupatorium perfoliatum can be distinghished from species with similar looking flowers by its perfoliate leaves on the central stem. The conspicuous surface texture on the leaves can aid in an ID. Brickellia eupatorioides (False Boneset) has similar looking flowers, but the alternate leaves are very different from the perfoliate leaves of Eupatorium perfoliatum. Eutrochium species in the state could also be differentiated by the difference in leaves and their arrangement of the stem. Eupatorium altissimum (Tall Boneset) can also be distinguished from Eupatorium perfoliatum by the appearance of the leaves.
Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed this plant to treat fevers (Smith, p. 30, 1923). The Meskwaki employed the roots of this plant long ago as a cure for snake bite (Smith, p. 214, 1928). The Chippewa utilized this species to treat rattlesnake bite and also used it in the treament of rheumatism and irregularities of menses (Gilmore, pp. 142-143, 1933).
Latitude: 44.798418
Longitude: -91.481835
Altitude: 246.50
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, 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, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, 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)
In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC)
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na