Figure 45.—Culvers-physic (Veronica virginica)

Synonym

Leptandra virginica (L.) Nutt.

Other Common Names

Culvers-root, blackroot, bowmansroot, beaumont root, Brinton root, tall speedwell, tall veronica, physic-root, whorlywort.

Habitat And Range

This common native herb is found abundantly in moist rich woods, mountain valleys, meadows, and thickets from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and south to Alabama, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Description

Culvers-physic is a tall, slender-stemmed herb from 3 to 7 feet in height. The long, narrow, pointed leaves, which are arranged around the stem at intervals, in groups of from three to nine, are 3 to 6 inches in length and 1 inch or less in width. The tube-shaped flowers, produced from June to September, are borne in several densely crowded, slender, terminal, spikelike heads from 3 to 9 inches long. The flowers are usually white, but at times are pink to bluish or purple.

Part Used

The rootstock and roots, collected in the fall of the second year.