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Actaea racemosa L. var. racemosa

Black bugbane

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
SpeciesracemosaLatin for “has a raceme,” or flower spike (from Stearn’s Botanical Latin)
var.racemosaLatin for “has a raceme,” or flower spike (from Stearn’s Botanical Latin)

About plant names...

Many common names of black cohosh include "bugbane," since the unpleasant-smelling flowers tend to repel insects. This is a North American native. What's a cohosh? A native American word for rough—a reference to the bumpy roots. See also the unrelated plant blue cohosh.

Identification: Plants are 3-6′ (91-182 cm) tall, rarely to 9′ (2.7 m); and fast-growing. Leaves are toothed, irregular in shape, in roughly triangular clusters tipped by a larger three-lobed leaflets. Leaflets are 1-4″ (3-10 cm) long. The ill-smelling flowers form long, attractive, feathery-looking spikes 6-24″ (15-60 cm) long—hence the name "fairy candles." Individual flowers have 4-5 sepals and are about ⅜″ (9.5 mm) in diameter. Fruits are ⅛-¼″ (6-9 mm) long, thick, and leathery.

 

Actaea racemosa (black bugbane)

7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

Actaea racemosa (black bugbane)

7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm) ID is uncertain

Some similar plants:

 
Actaea racemosa

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 1-2′ (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 1½′ (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

 

Medical: Native Americans used extracts of this plant as analgesics, sedatives, or anti inflammatory drugs; for example, in the treatment of snake bites. Black cohosh is used by some today to relieve menopausal symptoms, but there are no rigorous studies to support this. See HerbMed for information on clinical studies of black cohosh.

Online References:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Discover Life

Lucas Land: The Wildflowers of Highland and Bath Counties, Virginia

Www.frostburg.edu

Actaea racemosa (black bugbane)

7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt.

 

Actaea racemosa var. racemosa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 29 Aug 2021.

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Actaea racemosa (black bugbane)

7/17/2010 · Stan and Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

About this map...