Pioneer Wiregrass settlers mistakenly thought the root of this odd member of the carrot family [not the Yucca family, as the name would imply] to be an antidote to rattlesnake bites. In earlier history, indigenous peoples used the dried seed heads of Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) as rattles.
Hey Brian, I can’t stop looking at your websight. I commented the other day that my grandfather was the sheriff of Ben Hill county in the 30s-40s. This was my mothers father. My grandfather on my fathers side was James W Mccrimmon and owned a farm on Mccrimmon road. My mother, father, brother and myself lived on Sunset Drive in Fitzgerald in the 50s to early 60s and we spent a great deal of time when we were growing up at the farm on Mccrimmon road, (then known as bear road). Your site is pulling me back to Fitzgerald. Keep up the good work and thanks for the memories.