[ noun ] genus of perennial North American herbs with aromatic usually cormous roots <noun.plant>
Snakeroot \Snake"root`\, n. (Bot.) Any one of several plants of different genera and species, most of which are (or were formerly) reputed to be efficacious as remedies for the bites of serpents; also, the roots of any of these.
Note: The Virginia snakeroot is {Aristolochia Serpentaria}; black snakeroot is {Sanicula}, esp. {S. Marilandica}, also {Cimicifuga racemosa}; Seneca snakeroot is {Polygala Senega}; button snakeroot is {Liatris}, also {Eryngium}; white snakeroot is {Eupatorium ageratoides}. The name is also applied to some others besides these.