Actaea rubifolia (Appalachian bugbane)

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Actaea rubifolia (Kearney) Kartesz

Appalachian bugbane

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Magnoliidae	Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order	Ranunculales	Basal (evolved earlier) eudicots, also called “true dicots”
Family	Ranunculaceae	Buttercup family
Genus	Actaea	From ancient Greek, signifying a wet habitat and its leaves’ similarity to Sambucus leaves
Species	rubifolia	Foliage like Rubus (e.g. blackberries, raspberries)

About plant names...

The “bugbane” in Appalachian bugbane refers to its unpleasant-smelling flowers' ability to repel insects. This is a North American native, and an endangered species. There are small populations in Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, and the lower Ohio River Valley.

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 9" (16 × 24 cm)

Some similar plants:

	*Actaea racemosa*	You are here Actaea rubifolia	*Sanicula canadensis*
Common Name	black snakeroot	Appalachian bugbane	Canadian black snakeroot
Plant	Plants reach 10-24" (25-60 cm).	Plants are 12-55" (30-140 cm) tall.	Plants are 12-24" (30-60 cm) high. Stems are light green, sometimes furrowed.
Flowers	White flowers form on tall stalks up to 8' (2.5 m) in height, with the flowering portions up to 20" (50 cm) tall.	White flowers form long, attractive, feathery-looking spikes 6-24" (15-60 cm) long, straight or slightly curved. Individual flowers have 5 sepals and are about ⅜" (9.5 mm) in diameter.	Small clusters, greenish-white, not especially interesting.
Leaves	Leaves often occur in groups of three, on thin stems, and are saw-toothed.	Toothed, shaped like maple leaves. Leaflets are 6-12" (15-30 cm) long.	In groups of three, and are less than 3" (7.6 cm) long.
Fruit	Black or dark brown seeds.	Fruits are ⅛" (3 mm) around, and reddish brown.	Seed pods are about ½" (1.3 cm) in diameter, and resemble burrs, with small hooks.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Rich soils in moist woods, ravines		Rich woods, open rocky woods, thickets
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild
Occurrence	Common	Endangered	Common

Identification: Plants are 12-55" (30-140 cm) tall. Leaves are toothed, and shaped like maple leaves. Leaflets are 6-12" (15-30 cm) long. The white flowers form long, attractive, feathery-looking spikes 6-24" (15-60 cm) long, straight or slightly curved. Individual flowers have 5 sepals and are about ⅜" (9.5 mm) in diameter. Fruits are ⅛" (3 mm) around, and reddish brown.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones I couldn't find specific information for this species, but other members of this family are very poisonous.