White Snakeroot (Noun)
Meaning
American herb having flat-topped clusters of small white flower heads; reputedly a cause of trembles and milk sickness; sometimes placed in genus Eupatorium.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- White snakeroot grew in abundance throughout the Midwestern United States during the early 19th century, causing problems for the region's livestock.
- Lincoln's mother allegedly died from drinking milk contaminated with the toxic compounds produced by the white snakeroot plant.
- Poisoning from ingesting plants such as white snakeroot often resulted in milk sickness in humans, and trembles in animals.
- Farmers in Kentucky knew to watch out for white snakeroot since it tended to spread quickly and negatively impact the local fauna.
- Researchers often studied the unique compound found in white snakeroot to better understand the effects of tremetol on mammals.