Clustered Black Snakeroot
Sanicula odorata (Sanicula gregaria)
native
Other Names:
Common Black Snakeroot, Clustered Sanicle
Clustered Black Snakeroot is a native plant found in some parts of Virginia. It can tolerate somewhat degraded habitats, and it blooms in the late spring and early summer. The pollen and nectar attract flies and small bees. Its small fruits cling to the clothing of humans, the feathers of birds, and the fur of mammals, which is one way the seeds are distributed to new locations. It sometimes is referred to by the scientific name Sanicula gregaria. Clustered Black Snakeroot is in the carrot family, which has more than 3,700 species, the most familiar of which is the orange root vegetable eaten by humans and Bugs Bunny. There were efforts to induce Bugs Bunny to switch from carrots to celery (which is in the carrot family) or from carrots to broccoli (which is in the cabbage family), but Bugs stuck with the carrots.
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