Medicinal Monday... Rattlesnake Master

This perennial plant with an intimidating name, Rattlesnake Master, is found in sunny wetland areas from New Jersey to Florida. It has an attractive silver-blue flower with silver-green foliage that offers a surprising number of medicinal uses. 

Courtesy NC State Extension

About Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium aquaticum or Rattlesnake Master is an evergreen perennial that flowers from July to August. It is in the Apiaceae family, that also contains carrots, celery, and parsley. The species is hermaphrodite, meaning it has both male and female parts and is pollinated by bees, flies, and beetles. The stems are stiff and upright with alternating lance-shaped leaves that are toothed on the edges. The round heads of tiny fine parted florets make up umbels of bluish heads and spiny involucres that have a mist-like appearance at a distance against the dark green of a marsh. The tightly packed flowerhead is similar in shape and size to an aster. The dry fruit of this plant is formed from more than one carpel and breaks apart when ripe. It is usually found in wet areas like ponds, marshes, and bogs.

Medicinal Uses

This plant was used by the Creeks of Alabama and the Koasati was made into an infusion and used as an emetic. The Choctaw used the roots of this plant as a diuretic and expectorant. They also used the ground root as an antidote for snakebite. The roots were chewed and then applied to the bite. The Delaware used the roots to treat intestinal worms. An infusion of roots was used to treat fever.  In addition, the roots were often made into tea and used to treat gastrointestinal complaints.

Did You Know

The common name, rattlesnake master, comes from its use by Native Americans as an antidote for rattlesnake venom.

This plant is also known as the corn-snake root, bitter snakeroot, and marsh eryngo.

The plant is a larval host for the Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Many gardeners use this plant as an ornamental.