Alternate name: White Colic-root, Unicorn-root

Family: Liliaceae, Lily view all from this family

Description At the top of a sturdy, round stem is a spike-like cluster of small, white, urn-shaped flowers.
Flowers: 1/4-1/2" (6-13 mm) long; sepals 3 and petals 3, fused to form a swollen-based, 6-lobed tube, granular on outside, with small bracts beneath; stamens 6, showy orange.
Leaves: 2-7" (5-17.5 cm) long; pale green, lanceolate, long-pointed, arranged in basal cluster. Stem leaves very small, bract-like.
Fruit: capsule enclosed by persisting petals and sepals (perianth).
Height: 1-3' (30-90 cm).

Flower May-August.

Habitat Dry or wet meadows, peaty bog edges, open woods in acid soils.

Range Southern Ontario, southwestern Maine, southern New Hampshire, central Massachusetts, and southeastern New York; south to Florida; west to Texas; north to Michigan and Wisconsin.

Discussion Until the 19th century the roots were collected and used medicinally to treat colic. In the South, Blunt-leaved Colic-root (A. obovata) has globose white flowers. Yellow Colic-root (A. aurea) has globose yellow flowers 1/4" (6 mm) wide. Flowers of this group resemble Ladies'-Tresses (Spiranthes), members of the Orchid Family.