Sneezeweed 
You can find a plant in prairies and inland fresh meadows along stream banks, and roadside ditches that is called sneezeweed. Sneezeweed has winged, yellow daisy like flowers with fan-shaped heads. Sneezeweed has flowers with 3 teeth on it. This flower is related to the sunflower family and can be seen in swamps or wet meadows. Sneezeweed flowers in late summer or fall (August or October). The common name, sneezeweed, is based on the use of its dry leaves in making snuff, a tobacco product. If sneezeweed is inhaled, it will cause sneezing that would supposedly rid the body of evil spirits. Another species of the sneezeweed family is a purple-headed sneezeweed with a purplish-brown ball of disk flowers.
Unlike other plants, sneezeweed is not used for any herbal medication.
The type of poison found in sneezeweed is Sesquiterpene lactone. Sneezeweed
is poisonous to livestock including cattle, horses, and sheep. If any of
these animals eat it the symptoms would include:
. loss of vigor
. loss of flesh
. rapid pulse
. labored breathing
. loss of muscular control
. drooling
. high temperatures
. dizziness
. spasms
. convulsions
The treatment for sneezeweed is:
. Activated charcoal if ingestion is recent.
. Provide supportive care, watch for aspiration pneumonia.
Characteristics of Sneezeweed
. Season
Summer to Fall
. Height
24-60 inches
. Hardiness
USDA hardiness Zone 3-8
. Flower Color
Yellow, orange, and reddish
brown
. Soil
moist, well drained soil
.Exposure
full sun
. Propagation
division in fall
. North Carolina Regions
mountains, piedmont, coastal
plain
. Comments
Cultivars of sneezeweed
are becoming popular perennials, and they are much showier than the weedy
native sneezeweed found along dry roadsides. Reliable cultivars include
‘Riverton Beauty’ and ‘Butterpat’.
. Origin
North America
. Picture of sneezeweed:
By. Alyssa A.
You may contact us at: spoore@mail.ofsd.k12.wi.us
