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Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.

Red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh

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
SubclassMagnoliidaeIncludes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
OrderRanunculalesBasal (evolved earlier) eudicots, also called “true dicots”
FamilyRanunculaceaeButtercup family
GenusActaeaFrom ancient Greek, signifying a wet habitat and its leaves’ similarity to Sambucus leaves
SpeciesrubraFrom the Latin ruber or rubra meaning “red”

About plant names...

Red baneberry is called baneberry because of its poisonous nature. It is a North American native.

Plants: Red baneberry is 1-3′ (30-91 cm) high.

Leaves: On all of the baneberries, leaves often occur in groups of three, on thin stems, and are saw-toothed. Individual leaves are somewhat divided into three sections.

Flowers: Flowerheads are roughly spherical (racemes) of small white flowers ¼″ (6.3 mm) across, with a roselike odor. Flowerheads appear soft and feathery.

Fruits: Berries are oval when green, becoming rounder and bright or dark red when ripe.

Edibility: Skull & Crossbones All parts of this plant are poisonous. Causes burning of the mouth and throat, salivation, stomach cramps, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, and hallucinations. Berries have caused fatalities in children.

Some variants are compared below:

 

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 2½′ (55 × 82 cm) ID is uncertain

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

9/10/2014 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts

 
Actaea pachypoda

Actaea pachypoda f. rubrocarpa
You are here
Actaea rubra
Common Name

white baneberry

doll’s-eyes

red baneberry
Plant      
Flowers Flowerheads of small white flowers are roughly oval in shape. Each flower is ¼″ (6.3 mm) across. Flowerheads of small white flowers are roughly oval in shape. Each flower is ¼″ (6.3 mm) across. Feathery flowerheads of small white flowers are roughly oval in shape. Each flower is ¼″ (6.3 mm) across. Flowers have a roselike fragrance.
Leaves      
Fruit White berries supported by red pedicels that are ⅛″ (3 mm) or more in thickness. Berry tips have black-purple spot. Red berries supported by pedicels that are ⅛″ (3 mm) or more in thickness. Instead of the tomato red of red baneberry, these berries have a more luminous deep magenta color, becoming more purplish with time. Bright or dark red, oval berries are supported by pedicels that are less than ⅛″ (3 mm) thick.
Range/ Zones

USDA Zones: 3-8

USDA Zones: 3-8

Habitats     Actaea racemosa
Type Wild Wild Wild
Occurrence Common Rare Common

 

 
Actaea rubra f. neglecta
Common Name

white-fruited red baneberry
Plant 1-3′ (30-91 cm) high
Flowers roughly spherical (racemes) of small white or purple Flowers ¼″ (6.3 mm) across, with a roselike odor. Flowerheads appear soft and feathery. Flowers appear in May.
Leaves In groups of three, on thin stems, and are saw-toothed. Individual leaves are somewhat divided into three sections
Fruit Oval when green, becoming rounder and white when ripe
Range/ Zones

Habitats Moist, shaded areas, such as forest floors
Type Wild

 

Online References:

Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wikipedia

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

CalPhotos

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

EFloras

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

7/10/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 31 cm)

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 2½′ (116 × 77 cm) ID is uncertain

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

 

Actaea rubra description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 2½′ (116 × 77 cm) ID is uncertain

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

7/12/2015 · Smuggler’s Notch, Cambridge, Ver­mont · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Actaea rubra (red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh)

7/12/2015 · Smuggler’s Notch, Cambridge, Ver­mont · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)

Range:

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