The alumroot was ripped out of the ground and crunched to pieces, its juices squirting.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dragon on a Pedestal]

It had been a small alumroot, not enough really to hurt the huge snake; and anyway, alum was not generally fatal.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dragon on a Pedestal]

Next she tossed an alumroot.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dragon on a Pedestal]