Black Snakeroot

Black snakeroot, also called Maryland sanicle, is Sanicula marilandica, a low North American plant found across much of the continent but rare on the Pacific coast and in Texas, and Washington State lists it as sensitive. Its leaves are cut into deep lobes that spread from one point, most often five to seven of them. In spring a fruiting stalk up to about two feet tall carries tiny green flowers, and in autumn it bears fruits that split open and are covered with small spines. Grieve, writing on its European relative the wood sanicle, notes that the root of this American species holds resin and volatile oil and was given, with what she calls alleged success, for intermittent fever and chorea. It is a different plant from the snakeroot of the genus Aristolochia, which Cunningham treats under its own heading. Cunningham gives black snakeroot to Mars and fire: it is worn to draw lovers, kept in the bedroom or added to the bath, and carried to attract money.