Monday, July 16, 2012

Wildflowers of Ainsworth: Culver's Root

Culver's Root
(Click on images to enlarge)

A single stem adorned with whorled leaves and topped by one or more spikes of tubular blossoms.

Culver's Root blossoms

This plant was widely used in 19th-century medicine to purge the bowels. The Chippewas used it for that purpose, and also to stop nosebleeds, according to Jack Sanders. The name, Culver, is generally thought to be that of an early American physician whose exact identity is unknown, but who probably did a lot of purging of his patients.

Found in Fred Rose Park.

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