Sanicula is a genus of plants in family Apiaceae (or Umbelliferae),[1] the same family to which the carrot and parsnip belong. This genus has about 45 species worldwide, with at least 22 in North America.[2] The common names usually include the terms sanicle or black snakeroot.
Sanicula comes from sanus, Latin for "healthy", reflecting the use of S. europaea in traditional remedies.[3]