1. E. yuccæfòlium, Michx. (Rattlesnake-Master. Button Snake-root.) Branching above, 1–6° high; leaves rigid, tapering to a point (lower sometimes 2–3° long), the margins remotely bristly; heads ovate-globose (9´´ long), with ovate-lanceolate mostly entire cuspidate-tipped bracts shorter than the head, and similar bractlets.—Dry or damp soil, N. J. to Minn., south to Fla. and Tex. July–Sept.
[*][*] Tall and often stout; leaves thick, not parallel-veined.
2. E. Virginiànum, Lam. Slender (1–3° high); radical and lower stem-leaves linear- to oblong-lanceolate, on long (sometimes 1° long) fistulous petioles, entire or with small hooked teeth; upper leaves sessile, spiny-toothed or laciniate; heads ovate-oblong (6´´ long), with spiny-toothed or entire reflexed bracts, and bractlets with 3 spiny cusps (the middle one largest).—Margins of ponds and streams, N. J. to Fla. and Tex., near the coast. Aug., Sept.
3. E. Leavenwórthii, Torr. & Gray. Stout (1–3° high); lowest stem-leaves broadly oblanceolate, spinosely toothed, the rest sessile and deeply palmately-parted into narrow incisely-pinnatifid spreading pungent segments; heads ovate-oblong (1–1½´ long), with pinnatifid spinose bracts and 3–7-cuspidate bractlets, the terminal ones very prominent and resembling the bracts.—Dry soil, E. Kan., Ark., and Tex.
[*][*][*] Prostrate and slender, rooting at the joints, diffusely branched, with small thin unarmed leaves and very small heads.
4. E. prostràtum, Nutt. Lower leaves oblong, entire, few-toothed, or lobed at base; upper leaves smaller, clustered at the rooting joints, ovate, few-toothed or entire (occasionally some additional trifid ones); reflexed bracts longer than the oblong heads (2–4´´ long).—Wet places, S. Mo. to Fla. and Tex.
36. SANÍCULA, Tourn. Sanicle. Black Snakeroot.
Calyx-teeth manifest, persistent. Fruit globular; the carpels not separating spontaneously, ribless, thickly clothed with hooked prickles, each with 5 oil-tubes.—Perennial rather tall glabrous herbs, with few palmately-lobed or parted leaves, those from the root long-petioled. Umbels irregular or compound, the flowers (greenish or yellowish) capitate in the umbellets, perfect, and with staminate ones intermixed. Involucre and involucels few-leaved. (Name said to be from sano, to heal; or perhaps from San Nicolas.)
1. S. Marylándica, L. Stem 1–3° high; leaves 3–7-parted, the divisions mostly sharply cut and serrate; sterile flowers numerous and long-pedicelled; fruit 1½–2´´ long, the styles longer than the prickles.—Throughout our range, south to Ga. and Tenn., west to E. Kan. and Minn. May–Aug.
Var. Canadénsis, Torr., has comparatively few and short-pedicelled sterile flowers, and styles shorter than the prickles. (S. Canadensis, L.)—With the last, but westward only to Minn. and E. Kan.