Herb: Rattlesnake Weed


Latin name: Daucus pusillus


Family: Umbelliferae



Medicinal use of Rattlesnake Weed:

The plant is antipruritic, blood purifier and febrifuge. A decoction has been used to treat colds, itches, fevers and snakebites. A poultice of the chewed plant has been applied to snakebites.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Biennial


Height:
60 cm
(2 feet)

Habitat of the herb:

Barrens, plains and dry hills. Streambanks, roadsides and waste areas in Texas.

Edible parts of Rattlesnake Weed:

Root - raw or cooked.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow August/September or April in situ. The seed germinates better if it is cold stratified, therefore the autumn sowing is liable to be more successful.

Cultivation of Rattlesnake Weed:

Barrens, plains and dry hills. Streambanks, roadsides and waste areas in Texas.

Known hazards of Daucus pusillus:

Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.