Eupatorium
Eupatorium is a genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae, containing from 36 to 60 species depending on the classification system. Most are herbaceous perennials growing to tall. A few are shrubs. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most are commonly called bonesets, thoroughworts or snakeroots in North America. The genus is named for Mithridates Eupator, king of Pontus. Systematics and taxonomy. "Eupatorium" has at times been held to contain as many as 800 species, but many of these have been moved (at least by some authors) to other genera, including "Ageratina , Chromolaena", "Condylidium", "Conoclinium", "Critonia", "Cronquistianthus", "Eutrochium", "Fleischmannia", "Flyriella", "Hebeclinium", "Koanophyllon", "Mikania", and "Tamaulipa". The classification of the tribe Eupatorieae, including species placed in "Eupatorium" in the present or past, is an area of ongoing research, so further changes are likely. What seems fairly certain by now is that there is a monophyletic group containing "Eupatorium" (about 42 species of white flowered plants in North America, Europe and Asia, but not South America) and the Joe-pye weeds ("Eutrochium"), and possibly others. Uses. "Eupatorium" are grown as ornamental plants, in particular in Asia. A number of popular ornamental plants formerly included  in "Eupatorium" have been moved to other genera, such as "Bartlettina" and "Conoclinium". Tobacco leaf curl virus is a pathogen occasionally affecting plants of this genus. The foliage is eaten by some Lepidoptera larvae, including those of "Orthonama obstipata" (The Gem). Medical use. The common names for the plants are all based on the previous usage of one species, "Eupatorium perfoliatum", as an herbal medicine. Despite its name, boneset is not used to treat broken bones, instead the common name apparently derives from the herb's use to treat dengue fever, which was also called breakbone fever because of the  pain that it caused. The name thoroughwort also comes from "Eupatorium perfoliatum", and refers to the perfoliate leaves, in which the stem appears to pierce the leaf (i.e. go through, note that in older usage "thorough" was not distinguished from "through", compare for example the word thoroughfare). Boneset, although poisonous to humans and grazing livestock, has been used in folk medicine, for instance to excrete excess uric acid which causes gout. Caution is advised when using boneset, since it contains toxic compounds that can cause liver damage. Side effects include muscular tremors, weakness, and constipation; overdoses may be deadly. Eupatorium