Aniseroot
Osmorhiza longistylis
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CLASSIFICATION: What’s in a name?
Scientific Name: Osmorhiza longistylis. The genus name Osmorhiza comes from Greek and means “scented root”, referring to the anise or licorice aroma of the roots and other parts of the plant.7 The epithet, longistylis, is also derived from Greek and means long-styled, referring to the fact that the styles of this species are longer than others in the genus.8
Common Name: Aniseroot. This common name refers to the anise or licorice scent of the roots and other parts of this plant.
Family: Apiaceae (Carrot Family). This is a very large plant family of mostly herbaceous plants with compound leaves and flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters called umbels. In addition to carrots, many other culinary plants are in this family including parsley, cilantro, parsnips, fennel, dill, and celery. As well as these very important edible species, many toxic plants are in this family, including water hemlock (Cicuta maculata), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: 1-2 feet
Description: A perennial plant which grows from a thickened root. It has compound leaves which are divided into three parts 2-3 times, and umbels of small white flowers which bloom in spring.1 Later in summer and fall, these develop into narrowly oval or oblong dry fruits with bristles on the ends, ideal for snagging onto the fur (or clothes!) of passing mammals.
Bloom time: Apr – May
Notes: This species is very similar to sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii). It can be distinguished by having fewer and smaller flowers and styles that are noticeably shorter (0.5-1.5mm), vs. 2-3.5mm on O. longistylis. It also lacks a strong anise scent.6
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Range: Very widespread in North America, from eastern Canada west to Alberta and south to New Mexico and Georgia, but much more scattered in the western part of its range. In Virginia, it is common in the mountains and Piedmont, but infrequently found in the Coastal Plain.2,5
Geology/Soil: Typically found in rich, moist, loamy soils on slopes and in floodplains.
Habitat: Found in rich moist forests and well-drained floodplain forests.
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: Often found under canopy trees like tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), white ash (Fraxinus americana), and bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), and with a wide array of other spring-blooming wildflowers such as mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica), spring beauty (Claytonia virginica var. virginica), and cut-leaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata).
Fauna associations: Many insect species nectar on the flowers, including flower flies (Syrphidae), bee flies (Bombylidae), and a wide variety of native bees. Like other members of the Apiaceae, Osmorhiza longistylis is a larval host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes).4
Human associations: Over time, people have found a variety of medicinal and other uses for Osmorhiza longistylis. The Cheyenne use this plant for kidney and stomach trouble and the Ojibwa make an infusion of the root for sore throats.3
We want these plants to thrive and for everyone who gets to visit the park to enjoy them, so remember – don’t pick flowers or other parts of the plant!!
Bibliography & Definitions
1 Weakley, A.S., J.C. Ludwig, and J.F. Townsend. 2012. Flora of Virginia. Bland Crowder, ed. Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project, Inc., Richmond. Fort Worth: Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press.
2 Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Center. (http://www.bonap.net/tdc). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]
3 “BRIT – Native American Ethnobotany Database.” Brit.org, 2025, naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=osmorhiza+. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
4 Hilty, John. “Aniseroot (Osmorhiza Longistylis).” Illinoiswildflowers.info, 2025, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/aniseroot.htm. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
5 Virginia Botanical Associates. “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Osmorhiza Longistylis (Torr.) DC.” Vaplantatlas.org, 2025, www.vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=1940&search=Search. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
6 Weakley, A.S. , and SE Flora Team. “Osmorhiza Longistylis (Anise-Root) – FSUS.” Unc.edu, 2024, fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon-detail.php&lsid=urn:lsid:ncbg.unc.edu:taxon::{F5B02B2F-C221-4D02-89EB-7B3F3D8C9E65}.
7 Lincoln Constance & Margriet Wetherwax 2012, Osmorhiza, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=10206, accessed on January 24, 2025.
8 Bebeau, G.D. “Aniseroot, Osmorhiza Longistylis (Torr.) DC.” Friendsofeloisebutler.org, 2014, www.friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/plants/aniseroot.html.
9 “Style | Plant Anatomy | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, www.britannica.com/science/style-plant-anatomy.
10 “Umbel | Botany | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, www.britannica.com/science/umbel.
Definitions:
Umbel: An umbrella-shaped cluster of flowers, with its branches coming from a common point.10
Compound leaf: A leaf which is divided into multiple parts, each resembling a leaf in their own right, but all arising from a single bud.
Style: The part of a flower which connects the stigma (part that receives pollen) to the ovary.9