Who was the leader of the band of explorers who ate a plant for sustenance?

Question

and the whole group of them found themselves in the throes of physical sensations and actions of trying to relieve themselves intestinally? Many of them died from this over-whelming physical exertion? And please, what was the name of the plant which caused this reaction?

Answer 1

I think you are thinking of Lewis and Clark. They ate some camus root after many days without food and when they meet the Nez Pierce. They ate the root that caused they great distress, stomach cramps, passing of wind, farting, and flux. No one died but they were very weak in fact it is historically thought now as the most dangerous time in th expedition as the Nez Pierce wanted to kill them for their guns and trade goods but they were stopped by a woman who had been rescued by a white-man sometime in her life.

I Can't find the modern name for it as I am giving you the highlight on Clark's accounts in the Journals. But there is a start