The Weed That Killed Abe Lincoln’s Mother

And she didn’t even have to be near it to die

Ageratina altissima, also known as White Snakeweed. image source

There is a lovely wildflower that grows wild in woods and fields throughout the states east of the Mississippi River in the United States. Its scientific name is Ageratina altissima but it is commonly known as white snakeroot.

White snakeroot is a perennial and produces clusters of small white blossoms. It grows to a height of four to five feet (between one to one and one-half meters) tall.

Even though it is a pretty plant, especially when blooming, it was named appropriately. Just as a snake can have venom that can kill, so does this harmless-looking plant. Every farmer should be familiar with this deadly beautiful flower.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in the United States, there was a strange illness that made its way around and of which no one could determine the cause. Entire families would die from it and it would even kill cattle, goats, sheep, and horses. Those who lived in rural areas were the most affected and it terrified everyone.

The symptoms were severe, a person (or animal) would develop weakness, vomiting, tremors, and delirium. Horses would stagger around blindly until they dropped over dead. Farmers were helpless as they watched their animals, families, and even…