Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald var. dioicus
Goatsbeard, goat’s beard, buck’s beard, bride’s feathers
Some sources say goatsbeard 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.
Habitats: Moist wooded areas, fields, roadsides, and waste areas.
Edibility: Poisonous. 
Seeds are toxic.
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Unrelated but similar species, often found in the same habitats. |
Online References:
Aruncus allegheniensis Rydb.
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) 
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) 
6/22/2017 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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 | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Rosales | Rose family and eight others |
| Family | Rosaceae | Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others |
| Genus | Aruncus | According 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’” |
| Species | dioicus | Dioecious, having male and female flowers on separate plants |
| var. | dioicus | Dioecious, having male and female flowers on separate plants |
Aruncus dioicus var. dioicus description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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