Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin

CULVER'S ROOT

(Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw.)


Culver's root

FIGWORT FAMILY (Scrophulariaceae)

IND. STATUS: FAC

FIELD CHARACTERISTICS: An erect, perennial herb 80-200 cm. high. The narrow, finely serrated leaves occur in whorls of 3-7 around the stem. Both stem and basal leaves are present. The showy inflorescence is erect with slender, terminal, spike-like racemes. The conspicuous stamens are crowded and protrude in a brush-like fashion perpendicular to the raceme. The white corollas are usually not much over 2 mm. in length. In flower from mid-June through August.

ECOLOGICAL NOTES: Culver's root is a frequent herb of wet to wet-mesic prairies. It is occasionally found on upland sites such as moist, open woodlots, and sand prairies.

SOURCE: Gleason and Cronquist (1991); and Swink and Wilhelm (1994).


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