White Snakeroot

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Globally secure (G5), nationally secure in both Canada (N5) and the United States (N5). Not listed under SARA. Secure in Ontario (S5); not yet ranked in Quebec (SNR) despite abundant herbarium records and widespread occurrence.

S22 G5, N5; S26 not SARA listed

Rarity Ranks

QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON S5 – Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Common in moist to slightly dry deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, shady seeps, and floodplain forests. Thrives in disturbed and degraded wooded areas but also occurs at higher quality sites. Frequently found along trails, fence rows, and powerline clearances in woodland settings.

S10 woodland habitats; S7 swamps, thickets, rich hardwoods

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: spines? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Stimulant, Tonic, Urinary Aid, Analgesic

S28 Moerman categories; S29 PFAF medicinal uses

Notes

Extensively used by Cherokee, Iroquois, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Meskwaki nations. Root decoctions served as diuretics, febrifuges, tonics, and diaphoretics. Iroquois used root infusions for gynecological complaints and venereal disease. Cherokee and Chickasaw chewed roots for toothache relief. Meskwaki employed the plant in sweat baths and smudging to revive unconscious patients.

S28 21 Moerman drug uses across 5 nations

Edibility & Foraging

ℹ

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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❌ Not Edible   

Foraging Notes

Not edible. All parts contain tremetol, a toxic alcohol responsible for fatal 'milk sickness' in humans who consumed dairy products from cattle that had grazed on the plant.

S29 tremetol toxicity; S10 milk sickness

Toxicity

☠️ High Toxicity

Contains tremetol, a complex alcohol that causes 'trembles' (staggers) in cattle and potentially fatal 'milk sickness' in humans who consume affected dairy products. Abraham Lincoln's mother is believed to have died from milk sickness. Despite Cornell not listing it, toxicity is well-documented across multiple sources.

S29 tremetol; S10 milk sickness; S61 highly toxic

Seed Source

• Localeaf