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Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald var. dioicus

Goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderRosalesRose family and eight others
FamilyRosaceaeIncludes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
GenusAruncusAccording to Umberto Quattrocchi, “from Latin aruncus, ‘the beard of the goat,’ a classical name used by Pliny for herbs commonly known as ‘goat’s beard’”
Speciesdioicus
var.dioicus

About plant names...

Goatsbeard prefers moist wooded areas, fields, roadsides, and waste areas. Some sources say that this species was probably introduced to North America; others that it is native to the eastern and central United States and intro­duced further north. It is believed to be native to Europe and Asia.

Plants: Plants tend to grow in clumps several feet around. Thin, stiff stems support leaf clusters topped by showy sprays of white flowers.

Leaves: Each leaf cluster is bipinnate or tripinnate, and has 20 more toothed (dentate), opposite, oval leaflets. Individual leaflets are 1-5″ (2.5-12 cm) long.

Flowers: Long, thin, feathery cream-colored sprays of tiny florets, like white fireworks displays. Flowers differ somewhat on male and female plants, with the male plants producing more showy flowers. Each floret has 15 or more stamens and 3-5 pistils.

Fruits: Female plants produce tiny brown seed capsules.

Edibility: Poisonous. Skull & Crossbones Seeds are toxic.

These species are closely similar, so much so that they are often cited as examples of convergent evolution. They prefer the same habitats and are often found growing side-by-side:

 

Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers)

6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers)

6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers)

6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers)

6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

  You are here
Aruncus dioicus var. dioicus

Astilbe biternata
Common Name

goatsbeard

false goatsbeard
Plant In clumps several feet around. Thin, stiff stems support leaf clusters topped by showy sprays of white flowers. 2-6′ (60-182 cm) high, and dioecious.
Flowers Long, thin, feathery cream-colored sprays of tiny florets. Male flowers are somewhat more showy. Each floret has 15-20 stamens and 3-5 pistils. Long, thin, feathery cream-colored or yellowish sprays of tiny florets, like white fireworks displays. Florets have 5 petals, and ten stamens. Blooms appear from late spring to early summer.
Leaves Bipinnate or tripinnate, with 20 or more toothed (dentate), opposite, oval leaflets. Individual leaflets are 1-5″ (2.5-12 cm) long. Bright green, coarse, up to 2′ (60 cm) long, bipinnate or tripinnate, with ovate leaflets. Leaflets are 3-6″ (8-15 cm) × 1½-6″ (4-15 cm). The terminal leaflet has three lobes.
Fruit Female plants produce three carpels with tiny brown seed capsules. Usually have two carpels, and are ~⅛″ (3.5-4 mm) in size.
Range/ Zones

USDA Zones: 3-8

USDA Zones: 5-8
Habitats Moist wooded areas, fields, roadsides, and waste areas. Shady habitats and damp soil.
Type Wild Wild

 

Online References:

Wildflowers of the United States

Www.bing.com (PDF)

Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Wikipedia

Wikimedia Commons

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

EFloras

Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers)

6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers)

6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers)

6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Aruncus allegheniensis Rydb.

 

Aruncus dioicus var. dioicus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 Sep 2021.

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Range: Zones 3-8:

About this map...