HAMMOCK SNAKEROOT

CAUTION: It is listed as "rare" under IRC south Florida status, so never harvest in the southern part of the state. The Florida Wildflower Foundation writes, "the plant is poisonous to both humans and livestock if ingested." A similar species that grows in north Florida is also toxic, A. altissima, the White Snakeroot, causes “milk sickness”, a serious disease of the 1800s in the central US.  “Weakness and nausea may result from drinking the milk of cows that have grazed on White Snakeroot.  Abraham Lincoln's mother is thought to have died from this "milk sickness."  Further symptoms include severe vomiting, tremors, liver failure, constipation, delirium and death.” [3]   

WILDLIFE: Stephanie Sanchez writes, "It is an excellent fall/winter nectar source." [8] Flowers attract many butterflies including Malachites, Monarchs, Zebra Longwings, Ruddy Daggerwing, and Julias.  Cultivated by native plant / butterfly gardeners. [4]  Roger Hammer writes, "small butterflies visit the flowers, especially crescents, blues, hairstreaks, and skippers." [13] The flowers are also attractive to bees and birds. [6]
IN THE LANDSCAPE: "Hammock snakeroot makes a nice low shrub border, but also works well in naturalistic plantings and in mixed beds." [6] 

—NATIVE TO:  Georgia [in just three counties in the southeasternmost part of the state] [7] and Florida [most counties, except many in the panhandle.]. 
IRC  SOUTH FLORIDA STATUS: Rare. [4] 
HABITAT: Mesic flatwoods and mesic hammocks. [4]  Dry sandhills. [5] Also "upland mixed woodlands, and along roadsides and stream banks." [6]
FIRE ECOLOGY: Natureserve writes, "A. jucunda is an associate species of longleaf pine and wiregrass communities that are dependent on periodic fires to maintain the integrity and productivity. Fire suppression can cause ideal habitat loss and therefore a loss of populations of A. jucunda." [9] 

—DESCRIPTION:  Flowering herbaceous perennial.
- HEIGHT: 1-3 feet or more. 
- STEMS: Erect.
- LEAVES: Opposite, pointed, glabrous, triangular, with crenate / serrate leaf margin.  Lance-shaped. "Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous." [5]
- FLOWERS: "It is yet another member of the Eupatorieae tribe of the Aster family, which means its flowers consist of only disc and no ray florets. Its disc flowers are tubular." [6] Flowers white, tiny, in flat-topped clusters.  Appearing "late summer to early winter." [5] Roger Hammer lists is as blooming from September through January. [12] "Summer through early winter" in Florida. [6] September through January. [1] "October through December." [11] They may have "a hint of a purple-pink color depending on which way the light hits them." [8]
NOTE: This genus was recently divided from Eupatorium.  

—SYNONYM:  Eupatorium juncundum.
RELATED SPECIES: There are two other species of Ageratina found here in Florida. 

—SIMILAR SPECIES AND THEIR MEDICINAL PROPERTIES:  Two other species within the genus grow wild in the northern part of the state, A. altissima and A. aromatica. 
- A. altissima, the native WHITE SNAKEROOT, is discussed in Florida Ethnobotany, by Austin.  It was known as Noota [tooth] ikheesh [medicine] by the Choctaw and Chickasaw.  The Chickasaw and Choctaw chewed the root and held it in the mouth for toothache. [Austin]  “Root tea used for ague, diarrhea, kidney stones, and fever.  Root poultice used to treat snakebites.” [3]  “Smoke from burning green leaves used to revive unconscious people.” [3]  It grows in 5 central panhandle counties as well as in Georgia.  CAUTION:  This species causes “milk sickness”, a serious disease of the 1800s in the central US.  “Weakness and nausea may result from drinking the milk of cows that have grazed on White Snakeroot.  Abraham Lincoln's mother is thought to have died from this "milk sickness."  Further symptoms include severe vomiting, tremors, liver failure, constipation, delirium and death.” [3]  Altissima: "The plant contains tremetol, a complex alcohol, and glycosides. These toxins cause a fatal disease known as 'staggers' in cattle. The toxin can be passed through the milk and has caused fatalities in humans who have drunk affected cow's milk." [10] 

—- A. aromatica, the LESSER SNAKEROOT.
SIMILAR SPECIES IN FLORIDA: Mikania species, which are vines, may appear similar from a distance. 

—ANOTHER AGERATINA SPECIES: Another species, not found wild in Florida, is A. pichinchensis, a mostly Mexican species, known as AXIHUITL, aka Snakeroot.  It “is a traditional Mexican treatment for superficial fungal infections of the skin.  The plant extract contains encecalin which has activity to inhibit and kill the fungus.  Studies have compared its effectiveness in treating toenail fungus with ciclopirox.”

—CULTURE: 
- HARDINESS: USDA zones 8-11. [6]
- LIGHT: Sun to partial shade.  It does well in "high pine shade." [5]
- WATER: It does well in moist, but well drained soil.
- SOIL: It prefers well drained soil. [6]
- DROUGHT TOLERANCE: "It cam handle short periods of drought once established." [6]