Sanicula Linnaeus. Common name: Sanicle, Snakeroot.
Contributed by Bruce A. Sorrie & Alan S. Weakley
A genus of about 41 species, herbs, nearly cosmopolitan (Plunkett et al. 2018).
Key advice:Most Sanicula species cannot be reliably determined from sterile plants; fruits or flowers are required for identification. An important character is the length of the styles in relation to the calyx and/or to the bristles on the fruit. In the longer-styled species, the styles are slender and curved outward, sometimes enmeshed in the bristles, but distinctly longer than them and also longer than the calyx. In the shorter-styled species, the styles are straight to slightly curved, shorter than or about as long as the bristles, and more or less included in the calyx. In most species the calyx is inconspicuous, but consists of 5 deltoid to narrowly triangular (or even subulate) calyx lobes, 0.4-2.0 mm long, at the summit of the schizocarp (the fruit).
References: Ball (2024r) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2024); Bicknell (1897); Mathias & Constance (1945); Plunkett et al. (2018a) In Kadereit & Bittrich (2018); Pryer & Phillippe (1989). Show full citations.
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend. Data for arrows not developed for genera and families which may have species only occurring outside the flora area.
© Gary P. Fleming | Sanicula marilandica | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Sanicula trifoliata | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Sanicula? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.