AMERICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



53 



SNAKEROOT 



(1) Aristolochia serpentaria L. (fig. 99); (2) A. reticulata Nutt; 



Other common names. — (1) Viiginia snakeroot, Virginia serpentaria, ser- 

 pentary, snakeweed, pelicanflower, snagrel, sangrel, sangree-root; (2) Texas snake- 

 root, Texas serpentaria, Red River snakeroot. 



Habitat and range.— Virginia snakeroot is found in rich woods from Connecticut 

 to Michigan and southward, principally among the Alleghenies, and Texas 

 snakeroot occurs in the Southwestern States, growing along river banks from 

 Arkansas to Louisiana. 



Description of Virginia snakeroot. — This plant is nearly erect, the slender, 

 wavy stem sparingly branched near the base growing usually to about a foot in 

 height, sometimes, however, even reaching 3 feet. It has thin leaves, heart- 

 shaped at the base and pointed at the apex, about 2}i inches long and from 1 to l l A 

 inches wide. The dull-brown, somewhat leathery flowers are produced individu- 

 ally from near the base of the plant on slender stems. The fruit is round, about 

 half an inch in diameter, and contains numerous seeds. Serpentaria has a short 

 rootstock with many thin, branching, fibrous roots. The rootstock has a very 

 agreeable, aromatic, camphorlike odor and a warm, bitterish, camphoraceous 

 taste. 



Description of Texas snakeroot. — This plant has a very wavy stem with oval, 

 heart-shaped, clasping leaves which are rather thick and marked with a network 

 of veins. The entire plant is hairy, with numerous long, coarse hairs. The small 

 densely hairy, purplish flowers are produced from the base of the plant. The 

 rootstock of this species is larger and has fewer small roots than that of the 

 Virginia snakeroot. 



Part used. — The roots of both species, collected in autumn. In reasonably 

 constant demand. 



Figure 99.— Snakeroot (Aristolochia 

 serpentaria) 



Figure 100. 



-Sourwood (Oxydendrum 

 arboreum) 



SOURWOOD 



Oxydendrum arboreum (L.) DC. 



(Fig. 100.) 



Other common names. — Sorrel tree, sour gum. elk tree. 



Habitat and range. — Sourwood is found in woods, Pennsylvania to Indiana and 

 Alabama and Florida. 



Description. — This is a smooth-barked tree reaching a maximum height of 60 

 feet with a trunk 15 inches in diameter. The pointed oblong or elliptic, finely 

 and sharply toothed leaves are from 4 to 6 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide. 

 The small, white, waxlike flowers, produced in June and July, are borne in long, 

 slender, 1-sided, clustered racemes. The reddish-brown wood is hard and heavy. 



Part used. — The leaves. In limited demand only. 



