Actaea spicata
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Actaea spicata, the baneberry[1] or herb Christopher,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the genus Actaea, native from Europe to western Siberia and northern Iran.[3] It is often found on limestone edges and in deciduous woodland; key factors are shade, low competition, and a cool, protected root run.[4]
Description
Actaea spicata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to Template:Cvt tall. The basal leaves are large, biternate or bipinnate. The leaflets are more-or-less toothed. The flowers are white, with 3–6 petaloid sepals, and are produced in an erect raceme. The fruit is a berry, black when ripe and Template:Cvt across.[5][6] Its fruit persists for an average of 57.5 days, and bears an average of 11.4 seeds per fruit. Fruits average 90.7% water, and their dry weight includes 2.4% carbohydrates (possibly the lowest of any European fleshy fruit) and 1.0% lipids.Template:Sfn
Taxonomy
Actaea spicata was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[7] Two varieties have been recognized:[8]
- Actaea spicata var. spicata. Europe, northwestern Asia.
- Actaea spicata var. acuminata (syn. A. acuminata). Pakistan, India and the Himalayas, above 2000 m altitude.
Ecology
Granivorous rodents sometimes remove the fruits, consuming most of the seeds but only a small proportion of the fruit's pulp. As some seeds inevitably escape predation, they also act as seed dispersers.Template:Sfn
Cultivation
Actaea spicata is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is toxic by ingestion, and is also an irritant, so requires careful handling.[9] It has been used as a homeopathic remedy for arthritis and joint pain.[10]
References
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Bibliography
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External links
- Flora Europaea: Actaea spicata
- Nepal Checklist: Actaea spicata var. acuminata
- Template:GRIN
- Plants for a Future: Actaea spicata
- Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, Template:ISBN