Spiderwort

Species:  Virniana

Common Names:  Spiderwort, snotweed

Habitat:  Common in pastures and in moist woods

Growing Season:  April - July

Plant Size:  6 - 14 in, ( 15 - 35cm )

Features For Identification:  Three rounded petals, at top leaner leaves, 1 -2 inch petals, are purplish blue.  Six stamens and a hairy stem.  Two to four grasslike leaves which may be a foot long.

Uses:  Can be eaten as a salad, candy, sugar, has sweetness, or cooked greens.

Folklore:  Do to the action of certain enzymes within the plant, the dead blossoms do not shrivel and fall off as most blossoms do, but instead turn into a runny blob. That is why it is sometimes called snotweed.