COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY) 553 



bracts nearly a half-inch long, linear, with a few short, pointed, 



spreading ones at base. Achenes oblong, with straw-colored pappus . 



Means of control should be the same as for Prenanthes serpentaria. 



GALL-OF-THE-EARTH 



Prendnthes serpentaria, Pursh 

 (Ndbalus serpentdrius, Hook) 



Other English names: Rattlesnake Root, Lion's Foot, Snake Gen- 

 tian, Drop Flower, Cankerweed. 



Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds. 



Time oj bloom: August to October. 



Seed-time: September to November. 



Range: Ontario, New York, and Massachusetts, southward to 

 Florida and Alabama. 



Habitat: Fields, pastures, fence rows, open thickets. 



The large, tuberous roots of this weed are extremely bitter and 

 once had the reputation of curing rattlesnake bites, whence its 

 specific and common names ; stem and leaves partake of the same 

 quality, and, even when good forage is very scarce, grazing cattle 

 will leave it unmolested to bloom and mature seed. 



Stem two to four feet tall, erect, smooth, often purplish, not 

 glaucous, branched above, and usually somewhat spreading. 

 Leaves rather thick and firm, the lower ones often six or eight inches 

 long and most variable in shape ; pinnatifid or palmately lobed or 

 halberd-form or heart-shaped, usually with wavy edges or coarsely 

 and very irregularly toothed, the petioles winged; upper leaves 

 long-ovate to lance-shaped, often entire. Panicles rather large, 

 loose, fork-branched, upcurved, the heads pendulous, chiefly in 

 terminal clusters but a few in the upper axils ; florets eight to twelve, 

 pale purple or cream-colored ; involucre funnel-shaped, the bracts 

 often purplish, usually somewhat bristly, spreading abruptly above 

 the middle. Achenes yellowish brown, with straw-colored pappus. 



Means of control 



Prevent seed development and distribution by close cutting 

 while in early bloom. Cultivation of the ground will destroy the 

 tuberous roots. Small areas should be grubbed out. 



