| (White snakeroot)
Dark bronze leaves and white flowers make very impressive summer displays in sunny or partially shaded gardens. American Indians used a tea made from the roots to treat painful urination, kidney stones and diarrhea. A poultice was used for snakebites, hence its alternate name, ‘snakeroot’. All parts of the fresh plant contain tremetone which is toxic and even fatal if ingested. Tremetone decomposes readily, so presumably native Indian healers knew how to process this herb for safe use.