Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_4672.JPG-08-01-2020
Flower name (scientific): Eryngium yuccifolium André Michaux PY: 1803. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) er-RIN-jee-um yuk-ki-FOH-lee-um
Flower name (common): Rattlesnake Master
Family name (common): Carrot
Family name (scientific): Apiaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek, due to Theophrastus, for a plant with spiny leaves.
    Specific epithet: Having Yucca-like leaves. Yucca is a genus whose species are noted for their usually rigid linear-lanceolate (sword-shaped) leaves.
Common name origin: From the belief that the plant provided a cure for rattlesnake bites. This is known to be erroneous.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-spherical
Plant description:
     Size: 24 to 60 inches (61 to 152 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate and/or whorl, type is simple
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate (IL), linear (MP). Shape: leaf, narrowly lanceolate (IL), linear (MP)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): July to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Prairies, meadows, savannas, thickets, woodland openings, sun, moist to dry, sandy soil.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes.
Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki utilized the root to treat bladder issues and as a general medicine for poisons except that from the rattlesnake (Smith, p. 248, 1928).The Cherokee used the plant as a snakebite remedy. The Creek used the plant to treat multiple ailments including snakebites, kidney issues, and neuralgia (Moerman, p. 226, 1998).
Latitude:
Longitude:
Altitude:
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marathon, Milwaukee, Oneida, Racine, Rock, Walworth, Washburn, Waukesha) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI) Click here for distribution map
In Canada:
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium (The other infraspecific is Eryngium yuccifolium var. synchaetum A. Gray ex John Merle Coulter & Rose which is found in the southern region of the US.)
Wetland Status (NC): FAC
Wetland Status (MW): FAC