Adder's Tongue

The plant, which is quite smooth, grows from a small, slender, ovoid, fawn-coloured corm, 1/3 to 1 inch long which is quite deeply buried in the soil and is of solid, firm consistence and white and starchy internally. The stem is slender, a few inches high, and bears near the ground, on footstalks 2 to 3 inches long, a pair of oblong, dark-green, purplish-blotched leaves, the blades about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide, minutely wrinkled, with parallel, longitudinal veins.
The stem terminates in a handsome, large, pendulous, lily-like flower, an inch across, with the perianth divisions strongly recurved, bright yellow in colour, often tinged with purple and finely dotted within at the base, and with six stamens. It flowers in the latter part of April and early in May.

Common Name:	Adder's Tongue
Botanical Name:	Erythronium Americanum
Other Names:	Dog Tooth Violet, Trout Lily, Serpent's Tongue, Yellow Snowdrop, Rattlesnake Violet, Yellow Snakeleaf
Habitat:	Woodlands and Wetland Areas
Medicinal Uses:	Used as an agent to prevent ulcerated wounds, as well as a skin and hair softener
Magickal Representation:	Fishing when this blooms will bring a successful fishing trip
Preparation and Dosage:	Bruised or fresh leaves are applied to ulcerations or tumors. Water can be poured over the leaves and steeped in cup of water, and drank for treatment of scurvy or tuberculosis Drinking this tea also cures hiccups or dropsy. Applying the dried bulb in powdered form to nose or mouth to prevent bleeding. Squeeze the juice from the crushed bulb and the leaves together to form a hair and skin softener. Seep in water to make a wash to prevent ulcers or lacerations of skin. Drinking this tea also is and emetic and will cause vomiting so use carefully in tea form. Antiseptic wash can be made for treament of Gout and microbial infections
Parts Used:	Leaves and Bulb
Location:	Eastern United States of America, from New Brunswick to Florida, and westwards to Ontario and Arkansas.
Classification:	Flower
Bibliography:	The Cherokee Herbal ~ J.T. Garrett © 2003 J.T.Garret pp 113, 122, 151, 168 Encyclopedia of Medicinal Herbs ~ Joseph Kadans, N.D. Ph.D ©1975 Arco Publishing Co. Inc. pps 21, 22 Botanical.org ~ A modern Herbal © Copyright Protected 1995-2004 botanical.org