Date: September 19, 2009. Location: Rochester cemetery (map)
| Classification Hierarchy | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Subkingdom | Tracheophyta |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta |
| Division | Magnoliophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass | Asteridae |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Ageratina |
| Species | Ageratina altissima |
Date: September 19, 2009. Location: Rochester cemetery (map)
Scientific Name: Ageratina altissima (Formerly: Eupatorium rugosum )
Common Name: White Snakeroot
Origin: Native
Notes: This perennial plant is toxic for live stock and humans. The milk from cows feeding on white snakeroot was responsible for "milk sickness" which was often fatal to people during frontier times. Among the victims of milk sickness was Abraham Lincoln's mother.
Additional references: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Flowers: Fall; clustered heads with white corollas, corollas and peduncles slightly villous; phyllaries with acute apices; mature cypsalae (achenes) black with five longitudinal ridges.
Leaves: opposite, petioles 10-30 mm, blade deltate to ovate-lancelate, margins coarsely (sometimes doubly) serrate, apices acuminate.
Similar species: Eupatorium serotinum Late boneset- fall blooming.
Glossary: Botanical Terms
