Ageratina occidentalis

Ageratina occidentalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Eupatorieae
Genus: Ageratina
Species: A. occidentalis
Binomial name
Ageratina occidentalis
(Hook.) King & H.Rob.
Synonyms

Eupatorium occidentale

Ageratina occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name western snakeroot or western eupatorium. It is native to the western United States where it grows in several types of habitat. This is a rhizomatous perennial herb growing fuzzy green or purple stems to a maximum height near 70 centimeters. The glandular leaves are triangular in shape with serrated edges. The inflorescence is a dense cluster of fuzzy flower heads containing long, protruding disc florets in shades of white, pink, and blue. There are no ray florets. The fruit is an achene a few millimeters long with a rough, bristly pappus.

Uses

Among the Zuni people, this plant is used as an ingredient of "schumaakwe cakes" and used externally for rheumatism and swelling. [1]

References

  1. Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30 (p. 50)

External links

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