Actaea spicata
| Actaea spicata | |
|---|---|
| 240px | |
| Actaea spicata fruit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Actaea |
| Species: | A. spicata |
| Binomial name | |
| Actaea spicata L. | |
Actaea spicata (Baneberry, Eurasian Baneberry, or Herb Christopher) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Actaea, native to Europe and western Asia.
It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing 30-60 cm tall. It has toothed, bipinnate compound leaves up to 40 cm long and 30 cm broad. The flowers are white, with 4-6 petaloid sepals, and are produced in an erect raceme about 10 cm long. The fruit is an oval glossy black berry, 10-11 mm long and 8 mm diameter.
There are two varieties:
- Actaea spicata var. spicata. Europe, northwestern Asia; at 0-1900 m altitude.
- Actaea spicata var. acuminata (syn. A. acuminata). Southwestern Asia, Himalaya, at 2500-3700 m altitude.
Cultivation and uses
It is an extremely poisonous plant. Despite this, it was used in the past in herbal medicines. It is also grown as an ornamental plant in gardens.
References
- Flora Europaea: Actaea spicata
- Nepal Checklist: Actaea spicata var. acuminata
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Actaea spicata
- Plants for a Future: Actaea spicata
| 40x40px | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Actaea spicata. |
| 40x40px | Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Baneberry. |
- Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg
19th century illustration
de:Ähriges Christophskraut es:Actaea spicata fr:Actaea spicata hsb:Wšědna čornica lv:Vārpainā krauklene nl:Christoffelkruid no:Trollbær pcd:Iérpe-sint-Qhértofe pl:Czerniec gronkowy fi:Mustakonnanmarja sv:Trolldruva
