Oxypolis

plant genus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Oxypolis is a genus of marsh herbs belonging to the Umbelliferae family. These plants are characterized by clustered, fusiform tuberous roots. Their leaves are either once-pinnate or reduced to slender, rush-like petioles. The name Oxypolis is derived from Greek roots, combining "oxy-" (meaning sharp or acid) and "polis" (meaning city). The genus includes plants commonly known as cowbane and water dropwort.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

cowbane
…plants, including seven species of Oxypolis, in the parsley family (Apiaceae), that are especially poisonous to cattle. The plants grow in marshes and are widely distributed in North America. They have clusters of white flowers surrounded by bracts (modified leaves). The most common species is O. rigidior, which is also…
Read More
…plants, including seven species of Oxypolis, in the parsley family (Apiaceae), that are especially poisonous to cattle. The plants grow in marshes and are widely distributed in North America. They have clusters of white flowers surrounded by bracts (modified leaves). The most common species is O. rigidior, which is also…
Read More