PARSLEY FAMILY UMBELLIFERAE 
SHORT-STYLED BLACK SNAKEROOT 
Sanicula canadensis L. 
Growing 1-4 feet high, rather dull green, and producing 
numerous forked branches, this Black Snakeroot is very common 
in woods from New Hampshire to Florida and west to South 
Dakota and Texas. The 
leafy stems have 3-5 di- 
visions, and the leaves are 
alternate and petioled, ex- 
cept those which form the 
involucre as shown. The 
root was formerly used in 
medicine and the genus 
name is derived from the 
Latin word meaning to 
heal. 
The very small white 
flowers are produced from 
June to August, the flower 
parts being attached above 
the ovary as in all mem- 
bers of the family. The 
calyx is about one-twentieth 
of an inch long and is 
divided into 5 pointed lobes 
which are longer than the 
§ minute white petals. The 5 stamens are attached to a flat 
disk at the base of the 2 short styles. 
The fruit shown is immature. When mature it is about one- 
fifth of an inch long, nearly spherical and thickly covered with 
hooked bristles which are longer than the 2 persistent styles. 
It is one of the very common burs that cling to our clothes in 
autumn. 
Another species of Black Snakeroot, Sanicula marilandica L., is 
very common. It is usually less branched and has firm bluish green 
leaves, the lower of which are on long petioles. The stamens are 
greenish white and the petals, of the same color, are slightly longer 
than the calyx. The fruit is about one-quarter inch long and the 
slender recurved styles are longer than the stout bristles. 
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