Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum

Eupatorium cannabinum (Hemp Agrimony)

• Flowers:Composite, the numerous, small, dull, white heads of tubular florets only, crowded in a scaly in­volucre and borne in spreading, flat-topped terminal cymes.
• Stem:Stout, tall, branching above, hairy, leafy
• Leaves:Opposite, often united at their bases, or clasping, lance-shaped, saw-edged, wrinkled.
• Preferred Habitat:Wet ground, low meadows, roadsides.
• Flowering Season:July - September
• Distribution:From the Gulf states north to Nebraska, Manitoba, and New Brunswick.

Frequently, in just such situations as its sister the Joe-Pye Weed selects, and with similar intent, the boneset spreads its soft, leaden-white bloom; but it will be noticed that the butterflies, which love color, especially deep pinks and magenta, let this plant alone, whereas beetles, that do not find the butterfly's favorite, fragrant Joe-Pye Weed at all to their liking, prefer these dull, odorous flowers. Many flies, wasps, and bees also, get generous entertain­ment in these tiny florets, where they feast with the minimum loss of time, each head in a cluster containing, as it does, from ten to sixteen restaurants. An ant crawling up the stem is usually discouraged by its hairs long before reaching the sweets. Sometimes the stem appears to run through the centre of one large leaf that is kinky in the middle and taper-pointed at both ends, rather than between a pair of leaves. ²

Regional Traditions :North America *

Related Species Joe-pye weed, E. purpureum
Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum

Though now little used medicinally, herbalists recognize its cathartic, diuretic and anti-scorbutic properties, and consider it a good remedy for purifying the blood, either used by itself, or in combination with other herbs. It had also the reputation of being a good wound herb, whether bruised or made into an ointment with lard.³