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Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

Painted Lady on Boneset | Pine Point Park, MN | View Enlarged Image

While Boneset is probably best known for its clusters of white flowers, it is easiest to identify by its leaves, which wrap around the stem of the plant (illustrated below.) Boneset is a native plant that is commonly found in drainage ditches, along roadsides, and in prairie restoration projects. It is very prolific, and spreads by way of seeds and root systems. It has become so common in parts of Canada that it is considered a weed in Ontario. Despite this somewhat negative reputation, Boneset is an excellent candidate for butterfly gardens as its nectar attracts several butterflies including the Monarch.

.Boneset's "one-piece" leaves earned it both its common name and its place in folk medicine. It was once believed to have the power to join broken bones just as it joined its leaves around its stem. Though modern practitioners may no longer put any credence in this association, Boneset is still used in medicinal teas and tonics.

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Boneset leaves | Pine Point Park, MN

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