Virginia Snakeweed Identification

Consider yourself lucky, if you identify Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia Serpentaria). Land managers consider the plant threatened or endangered in Connecticut, Michigan and New York. Plant populations are low because over harvesting and over consumption. Virginia snakeweed once served as a folk remedy for birth pains, gastrointestinal problems and snake bites. Certain insects feed on vast quantities of Virginia snakeweed leaves to complete their lifecycle. You need to get close to Virginia snakeweed to correctly identify its features, but you should avoid picking the plant due to its threatened status.

Habitat

Watch for Virginia snakeroot in the dappled shade of hickory, maple or oak trees. The plant has a native range that extends from Connecticut to Florida and from Iowa to Texas. It grows in rich dry-mesic forests and southern floodplains, sometimes near rivers. It grows near native bladderwort, poison ivy, spicebush, Virginia creeper and wild ginger.

Identification

Virginia snakeweed gets its name from its snake-like roots. These roots are actually horizontal-growing rhizome stem that sprouts new growth and allow the plant to colonize. So you want to keep your eyes open for a low-growing colony. Each stem grows up to 18 inches tall and bears heart-shaped leaves. Virginia snakeweed resembles Dutchman's Pipe and Birthwort. The former is a climbing vine and the later develops broad leaves.

Study the base of the stem for a dark-purple flower with a leather texture. The flower emits a camphor odor that attracts flies to its pollen-filled flower tube. Once inside, small hairs hold the flies until they are coated in pollen, then the hairs relax and release the flies to pollinate other flowers.

Other Snakeweed Features

Check the plant for fruit in July. The round fruit grows up to 1/2 inch in diameter and contains seeds.

Examine the leaves for black and orange-spotted caterpillars. The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly lays eggs on Virginia snakeweed leaves. The leaves contain a chemical toxin that protects newly-hatched caterpillar larvae from predatory birds.

References

United States Department of Agriculture PLANTS Database: Aristolochia Serpentaria L.-Virginia Snakeroot

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARSE3

Michigan State University Extension; Aristolochia Serpentaria L.-Virginia Snakeroot ; 2004

http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/abstracts/botany/Aristolochia_serpentaria.pdf

Fairfax County Public Schools: Virginia Snakeroot

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/virginia_snakeroot.htm

Purdue University NewCROP: Snakeroot

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/herbhunters/snakeroot.html