Lady's thumb

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Lady's thumb leaves

Lady's thumb leaf

Lady's thumb

Lady's thumb inflorescence

Lady's thumb leaf

Lady's thumb

Lady's thumb

Lady's thumb

Lady's thumb

Morphology

Stem

Erect or ascending, usually much-branched, glabrous or hairy.

Leaves

Alternate, simple, short-stalked, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 1 to 6 inches long, 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, often with dark spot near middle of blade; margins entire; tips tapering to points; stipules tubular, with short bristles on top margins.

Inflorescence

Racemes, erect, less than 1.25 inches long, densely flowered, terminal and axillary.

Flower

Perianths less than 1/8 inch long, greenish white proximally and rose distally, or entirely rose; perianth segments 5, united; tips free; stamens and styles not extending beyond perianth lobes.

Fruit

Achenes, small, shiny, black.

Ecology

Habitat

Damp disturbed sites and waste places.

Distribution

Principally east 3/5 of Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

Native Americans used the leaves to treat stomach pains and poison ivy rash, and rubbed the plant on their horses to keep flies away.

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.