colicroot, Aletris farinosa

Colicroot flowers are only about a third of an inch long, on spikes a couple of feet tall. They're fun to see in groups or up close. The spikes earn them the alternate name unicorn root. Aletris is toxic, and was a homeopathic treatment for a variety of ailments. One of the mentioned side effects is stupification. Could that explain the unicorns? Colicroot was also used by Native Americans, most often for digestive disorders. Colicroot grows in damp, mostly basic openings in AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV, and ON. Lenawee Co MI, 6/29/11. Bunchflower family, Melanthiaceae.