Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset)

Eupatorium perfoliatum L.

Boneset, common boneset, thoroughwort

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Eupatorium	From Mithridates Eupator, King of Pontus, who found an antidote to poison in one of the species
Species	perfoliatum	Refers to the stem which “perforates” the leaf

About plant names...

Eupatorium is a genus of flowering plants, part of the enormous aster family. Perfoliatum means perforated, referring to the fact that the stem appears to grow through opposing pairs of adjoined leaves. The common name, boneset, derives from the plant’s use at one time in treating dengue fever, which was also known as breakbone.

Identification: Plants reach 3' (1 m) high. The stout, very hairy stem branches at the top to support the flowers. Leaves are up to 8" (20 cm) long, long and narrow, with pointed ends and fine serrations. Prominent veins produce a rough upper surface and a hairy, somewhat sticky lower surface. Opposite leaf pairs are joined around the stem (“connate”), so that the stem appears to be growing through them, a major identifying trait. Small, dull white (sometimes pinkish) flowers emerge in flat-topped or slightly dome-shaped clusters at the top of the stem, which branches to support multiple clusters. Individual flowers are about ⅛" (3 mm) in diameter. The flowers lack petals (“rays”) and look like tiny shaving brushes.

Medical: Boneset has a long and often dubious history of medicinal use. Its opposite pairs of joined leaves were once thought to signify the power to heal broken bones. It was used to treat dengue fever. It was also used as a stimulant, and a laxative. Leaves brewed into a tea have been used to reduce fever, its primary use. There is no evidence to support any of these uses, and some evidence of mild toxicity—plants “should not be ingested.”

Some similar species:

8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

9/2/2017 · Rocky Ridge Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 10 cm)

	*Eupatorium capillifolium*	You are here Eupatorium perfoliatum	*Ageratina altissima*
Common Name	dogfennel	boneset	white snakeroot
Plant		Plants reach 3' (1 m) high.
Flowers		Small, dull white (sometimes pinkish) flowers are flat-topped or slightly dome-shaped clusters. Individual flowers are about ⅛" (3 mm) in diameter. The flowers lack petals (“rays”) and look like tiny shaving brushes.
Leaves		Opposite *leaf pairs are joined around the stem*, so that the stem appears to be growing through them. Leaves are up to 8" (20 cm) long, long and narrow, with pointed ends and fine serrations. Prominent veins produce a rough upper surface and a hairy, somewhat sticky lower surface.
Stem		The stout, *very hairy* stem branches at the top to support the flowers.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-10	USDA Zones: 3-8	USDA Zones: 4-8
Habitats		Damp fields, low meadows.
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild

	*Ageratina altissima ‘Chocolate’*
Common Name	white snakeroot
Plant	Plants are 3-5' (91-152 cm) high, and up to 3' (91 cm) around, with single or multiple stems.
Flowers	Flowerheads are somewhat dome-shaped clusters, each with 10-30 white brushlike flowers with no petals. Each flower is about ⅛" (4 mm) around.
Leaves	Leaves are 2-5" (5-12 cm) long, lance-shaped, and tapering at both ends; lower leaves are broader, more heart-shaped. Each leaf has three prominent veins and serrated edges. Leaf stems (petioles) are ½-1½" (1.3-3.8 cm) long. *Leaves are darker in the 'Chocolate' cultivar.*
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 4a-8b
Type	Cultivar

Online References:

Eupatorium perfoliatum on Missouriplants.com

Eupatorium perfoliatum at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Eupatorium perfoliatum on Botanical.com

Eupatorium perfoliatum at Illinois Wildflowers

Eupatorium perfoliatum on eFloras

Eupatorium perfoliatum on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Eupatorium perfoliatum at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Eupatorium perfoliatum on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Eupatorium perfoliatum on eFloras

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 434

8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 16 × 22" (41 × 55 cm)

8/3/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 5" (13 × 13 cm)

8/14/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Old Long Loop, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 12 cm)

8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 8" (12 × 19 cm)

7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

Eupatorium perfoliatum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.

8/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 19" (36 × 48 cm)

8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 8" (12 × 19 cm)

7/19/2012 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

8/25/2013 · Casalis State Forest, Elm Hill Rd, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 27 × 23" (68 × 58 cm)

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 7 × 9" (16 × 22 cm)

8/14/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Old Long Loop, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 10 × 7" (24 × 16 cm)

7/19/2012 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

8/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 11" (36 × 27 cm)

Range: Zones 3-8:

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