Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Section: Common Name: Scientific Name: Family:
Account for White Rattlesnake-root - Nabalus albus   L.
Members of Asteraceae:
Members of Nabalus with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 6 » Family Asteraceae
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AuthorL.
DistributionThis species has a bimodal range, owing to two varieties: the nominate var. albus is scattered in the mountains and perhaps the adjacent foothills, whereas var. stramineus occurs only in the Tidewater zone, south to Onslow County.

This is a more northerly species, ranging north to ME and Man. and south only to eastern NC and AR.
AbundanceSeemingly rare both in the Mountains and in the Coastal Plain. The full species is listed by the NC NHP as Special Concern.
HabitatGenerally in mesic forests and edges, especially so in high pH soil.
PhenologyBlooms and fruits from July - November.
IdentificationRattlesnake-roots are characterized by nodding heads of ray florets only, alternate leaves that are roughly triangular and irregularly lobed and/or toothed, and milky juice. White Rattlesnake-root grows 2-5 feet tall and has cinnamon colored pappus (feathery hairs attached to seeds), and white to pale pink florets.
Taxonomic CommentsWeakley (2024) does not show varieties for this species. However, the taxon growing in the lower Coastal Plain, recently described in 2025, necessitates the description of two varieties on this website, the montane one and the Coastal Plain one.

Other Common Name(s)Northern Rattlesnake-root
State RankS1S2
Global RankG5
State StatusSC-V
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