Shade wildflower that makes milk poisonous. Caused milk sickness on the Indiana frontier.

Opposite, nettle-like leaves with toothed edges and three main veins. Clusters of fuzzy white flower heads in late summer. No thorns.

Habitat

Woods, shaded fencerows, and overgrown lots around Dillsboro.

Season

August–October.

Size

2–4 ft

Field marks

Opposite toothed leaves; fuzzy white heads; woodland shade

Do not let goats, cows, or sheep graze it. The toxin (tremetone) passes into milk and meat and historically killed settlers — including Abraham Lincoln’s mother, not far from this county. Boneset lives in wet sun and the stem pierces a joined leaf pair. This plant does not.