Red baneberry

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Red baneberry
Actaea rubra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ranunculales Family: Ranunculaceae Genus: Actaea Species: A. rubra
Binomial name
Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd.
Subspecies
A. r. arguta A. r. rubra

Actaea rubra (Red baneberry) is a herbaceous flowering plant native from northern and western America in the family Ranunculaceae. These open woodland plants are upright growing with ternately branched stems with clusters of white flowers produced in mid spring. After flowering green berries are produced that turn bright red in mid summer or in the northern part of it's range in late summer.

Contents 1 Description 2 Uses and Identification 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Description

Plants grow 40 to 80 cm tall and have leaves that are coarsely toothed with deeply lobed margins. Plants commonly have hairy veins on the undersides of the foliage. Plants produce one to a few stems, each stem will have either three leaves that branch near the top, or will have three compound leaves and one upright flowering stalk from one point on the main central stem. The flowers have 3 to 5 sepals that are petal-like and obovate in shape and remain after flowering, The petals are deciduous, falling away after flowers is done, they are clawed at the base and 2.5 to 4 mm long and spatulate to odovate in shape. Flowers have numerous stamens and the are white in color. The fruits are ellipsoid shaped berries containing several seeds.^[1] Plants are slow growing and take a few years to grow large enough to flower, they are found growing in moisture retentive or even in wet soils.

The western subspecies is ssp. arguta, and the northern subspecies is ssp. rubra,^[2] these subspecies are not well differentiated, and in many locations, each grades in to the other over much of their ranges.^[3] There are white berried forms too, called forma neglecta, which are often more common than the typical red berried form in many locations.

Plants are sometimes grown in shade gardens for their attractive berries and their upright clump forming habit. The fruits and foliage are poisonous containing ranunculine,^[4] and often reported to contain protoanemonin. The foliage is rarely consumed by grazing animals.^[5] The berries are reported to have an unpleasant taste and are very unpalatable to humans.

All parts of the plant contain an irritant oil that is most concentrated with in the roots and berries. Ingestion of the berries causes nausea and severe gastrointestinal discomfort,^[6] there have been no reported cases of severe poisoning or deaths in animals or humans in North America, unlike its European relative A. spicata,^[7][8] which has been claimed to have poisoned children; though it is reported that poisoning is unlikely from eating the fruits of this species also^[9]

[edit] Uses and Identification

Native Americans used the juice from the fruits of various baneberry species to poison arrows, and used the root of the Red Baneberry as a herbal remedy for menstrual problems. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins which can cause cardiac arrest if introduced into the bloodstream. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death if enough material is consumed. The root of this species has been used as a strong alternative to Black Cohosh, (Cimicifuga racemosa), for menstrual cramping and menopausal discomfort. This plant closely resembles mountain sweetroot, (Osmorhiza chilensis), and can be confused with it, however, Red Baneberry lacks the strong anise-like "spicy celery" odor of mountain sweetroot. The berries are the most toxic part of the plant, and can have an immediate sedative affect on human cardiac muscle tissue. The berries are harmless to birds, the plants primary seed disperser. ^[10] The roots contain β-sitosterol glucoside.^[11]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/White%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/actaea%20rubra.htm