Florida Forest Plants

Blackroot  (Pterocaulon virgatum)

Blackroot, also called rabbit-tobacco, is a member of the family Asteraceae, or Compositae. Its distinctive fuzzy, winged foliage and erect, bottle-brush-like flowers are a common sight in southeastern flatwoods. Blackroot provides an important food source that is popular with wild hogs.

 

 

 Identifying Characteristics
Size/Form:
 Blackroot is an erect, herbaceous perenni, that grows from 2' to 4' tall with spike-like floral clusters and distinctive black roots.
Leaves:
 The leaves are simple, alternately-arranged, and linear to lanceolate with obvious wings along the sides of the stem. Leaves and stems are covered with soft, fuzzy  hairs.
Fruit:
 The fruit is a capsule.The flowers are erect inflorescences with fuzzy, whitish, spiral florets.

 
Bark:
 na
Habitat:
 Blackroot grows in open flatwoods and moist meadows. It prefers full sun.

Photos
Click on thumbnails to see a larger image.

root

flower

leaf

  

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