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Drawing copyright Mark Müller
Scrophulariaceae Family - "Culver's Root, Culver's Physic, Blackroot, Bowman's Root, High Veronica, Tall Speedwell"
Another commonly found species throughout the Tallgrass region on rich, moist soils, Culver's Root grows from 2 to 7 feet tall. Leaves are 6 inches long and 1 inch wide and occur in whorls of three to nine. Tiny white flowers bloom on tall, slender spikes generally 3 to 9 inches, but they can be larger. Blooms from July through August.
It was once used extensively as a cathartic by early settler (therein lies the source of the common name "Culver's Physic"). It was also an ingredient in many other mediceines and potions in combination with other species. The fresh root was used as a drastic abortivant, but it's actions were always uncertain and quite often overly-severe. Doses of the root in measured amounts were used as a stomach tonich and laxative; it was also used to treat dyspepsia, to treat digestive systems that were severely dibilitated, typhoid, diarrhea and fevers.
The Meskwaki used the root to treat constipation, to dissolve kidney stones and to treat women weak from intense labor during childbirth. The root and root teas could induce vomiting and many tribes across North America used the root as a laxative.
