Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month

Lachnanthes caroliana
Carolina Redroot (photo by Joseph Tauscher)
Carolina Redroot (photo by Joseph Tauscher)

Carolina redroot is a perennial herbaceous wildflower that occurs naturally in wet flatwoods, marshes, bogs, dome swamps, savannas, and coastal swales. Blooms of this plant are a creamy whitish-yellow and are borne in fan-like terminal clusters atop erect stems. The plant has pubescent hairs giving it a fuzzy appearance and feel.

This plant is attractive to a variety of butterflies and moths, seeds are eaten by birds, and feral hogs like the roots. The common name ‘redroot’ comes from the bright red roots and rhizomes of this plant, which were once used for dyes.

This plant is toxic to many livestock species.

Learn more about the plant characteristics here: https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-lachnanthes-caroliana/

or https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LACA5

Check out other Wild Weeds Here: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/bakerco/tag/wild-weeds/

by Alicia Halbritter

Source: UF/IFAS Pest Alert

 

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