White Snake Root Identification

Foliage

• The leaves on white snakeroot grow opposite one another, with a pair growing from each node on the stem. These leaves are between 2 ½ and 7 inches in length. The largest of the leaves feature a round base and they possess notably sharp teeth all along the borders. The leaves of white snakeroot taper to a distinct tip, giving them the appearance of a spearhead. The foliage is somewhat similar to that of a nettle, notes the Missouri Botanical Garden. Mature foliage is a dark shade of green. Look for the petiole, where the leaf attaches to the stem, to be about one-fourth the length of the leaf itself.

Flowers and Seeds

• When in bloom, white snakeroot is more recognizable than when it lacks flowers. The flowers occur on flat-topped clusters called corymbs. The corymbs are from 3 to 4 inches across. The individual flower head is only about ¼ inch wide. Each flower is white and lacks any rays, giving them a fluffy appearance. The flowers turn into seeds, with each being about 1/16 of an inch long. The seeds have a cigar shape, notes the Ohio State University Extension. The seeds have a minute tuft of white hair attached that acts as a parachute, allowing the wind to scatter them across the land.

Stems and Roots

• The stems of white snakeroot may be singular, or multiple stems can arise from a single root system. The stems mature to between 1 and 3 feet high, according to the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers: Eastern Region." Near their apex, the stems branch off. If you pull up a white snakeroot plant, notice the roots are fibrous, branching in many directions. The roots also generate underground stems from which new growth develops.

Time Frame

• When immature, white snakeroot has thin leaves. These pale green leaves feature short hairs on their upper surfaces and each will have three veins. The leaf stalks and the stems on the younger plants have a purple tint. White snakeroot flowers as early as July and it continues blooming throughout the summer, sometimes into fall up to the first frost.