Eryngium aquaticum

Familia: Apiaceae
Subfamilia: Saniculoideae
Tribus: Saniculeae
Genus: Eryngium
Species: Eryngium aquaticum
Varietas: E. a. var. aquaticum – E. a. var. ravenelii
Name

Eryngium aquaticum L., 1753
Synonyms

Eryngium foetidum Walt.
Eryngium plukenetii Ell.
Eryngium virginianum Lam.

Homonyms

Eryngium aquaticum Vell. = Eryngium floribundum Cham. & Schltdl.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
USA (Alabama, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia), Canada (British Columbia, Ontario)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 232. Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2018. Eryngium aquaticum. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2018. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Sep 15. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Eryngium aquaticum. Published online. Accessed: Sep 15 2018.
The Plant List 2013. Eryngium aquaticum in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Sep 15.
Tropicos.org 2018. Eryngium aquaticum. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 15 Sep 2018.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Eryngium aquaticum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: rattlesnakemaster, marsh rattlesnake master, corn-snakeroot, bitter snakeroot, marsh eryngo

Eryngium aquaticum is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae known by the common name rattlesnakemaster,[4] marsh rattlesnake master,[2] corn-snakeroot, bitter snakeroot, and marsh eryngo.[5] This plant is native to eastern North America.[2]

This biennial or perennial herb grows up to 2 meters tall. The ribbed, erect stem branches toward the top. There are alternately arranged leaves which are lance-shaped and toothed on the edges. The basal leaves may be up to 90 centimeters long by 9 wide. The inflorescence contains white to blue flower heads with spiny, blue-tinged bracts.[5]

In the wild this plant grows in wet soils, such as those by bogs, marshes, and ditches. It tolerates saturated soils and periodic flooding.[5]

This plant had a number of medicinal uses for Native American groups. The Cherokee people used it for nausea.[6] The Choctaw people used it as a remedy for snakebite and gonorrhea, and the Delaware people used it for intestinal worms.[6] Many groups made it into tea to treat gastrointestinal complaints. The Koasati attributed magical powers to the plant.[4]

This plant is used in flower arranging and as an ornamental garden plant.[5] However, most plants sold under the name E. aquaticum are actually specimens of Eryngium yuccifolium.[5][7]
References

Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 2: 622. Courtesy of Kentucky Native Plant Society. Scanned by Omnitek Inc.
Eryngium aquaticum. NatureServe.
The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 1 October 2015
Eryngium aquaticum. USDA Plants Profile.
Eryngium aquaticum. USDA NRCS Plant Guide.
Eryngium aquaticum. University of Michigan Ethnobotany.
Eryngium aquaticum. Missouri Botanical Garden.