Flower ID: IMG_1125.JPG-07-12-2017 Flower name (scientific): Veronicastrum virginicum (Linnaeus) Farwell PY: 1917. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ver-on-ee-KAS-trum vir-JIN-ih-kum Flower name (common): Culver's Root Family name (common): Plantain Family name (scientific): Plantaginaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Resembling Veronica. In Christian mythology, Saint Veronica gave Jesus her veil to wipe his face while carrying the cross. Specific epithet: Referring to or from Virginia Common name origin: Culver's root (also referred to as Culver's Physic) derives from an 18th century physician called Culver, who used its roots for purgative purposes. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1.0 cm) Petal count: 4 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Spike Plant description: Erect Size: 36 to 72 inches (91 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is whorl, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 15 to 20 cm long and up to 4 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate or elliptic (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, woods, fields, thickets, edges of woodlands, streambanks, sun or part shade, wet to moist to dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. Ethnobotany: The Menominee used the root as a strong "physic", and it was eaten as a reviver. In the following reference Smith uses the old name Veronica virginica(Smith, pp. 53-54, 1923). The Meskwaki employed the roots as a remedy for fits, constipation, and dissolving renal calculi (kidney stones) (Smith, p. 247, 1928). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, 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, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) In Canada: (MB, NS, ON) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Veronica virginica Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 9. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na