White Snakeroot (Ageratina altisima)

White Snakeroot (Ageratina altisima) 

White snakeroot is commonly found in Wisconsin’s woodland edges and thickets this time of  year, and some  minor caution is  advised. White snakeroot. also known as richweed or white sanicle, is a perennial herb native to eastern and central North America. The plant plays an important ecological role by attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths. However, it contains tremetol, a toxic compound that can poison livestock and humans if ingested, historically causing “milk sickness” in humans who consumed milk from cows that had eaten the plant. While it has been used in traditional medicine, such uses are not recommended due to its poisonous nature. 

White snakeroot grows up to three feet tall. It has small fuzzy white flower heads composed of disk flowers. It has serrated leaves in whorls of three or four. The leaves are two to six inches long with ragged edges and pointed tops. It prefers shaded woodlands and edges with moderately moist to dry soils, often thriving in rich, rocky, or disturbed habitats. (SF)