« Back to your search
Species Details
Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesAlternate, 2 to 3 pinnate, leaflets egg-shaped, 3-9 cm long, margins cleft and toothed, net venation
FlowersInflorescence a raceme, 2-17 cm, 25 or more flowers; flowers radially symmetric, sepals 3- 5, distinct, 2-4.5 mm, circular, whitish green; petals 5-10, distinct, 2-4.5 mm, spatula-shaped to wedge-shaped, clawed, cream coloured; stamens 15-50, inserted on receptacle, filaments thread-like; pistils 1, ovary superior
Fruits and SeedsBerry red or white, ellipsoid to spherical, 5-11 mm, several-seeded, poisonous; seeds dark brown to reddish brown, cone- to wedge-shaped, wringled, 3-3.5 mm
Scientific Name
Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
Common Name
red and white baneberry
General Description
Perennial herb; stem branched, erect, 40-100 cm tall, sparsely-hairy
Leaves
Alternate, 2 to 3 pinnate, leaflets egg-shaped, 3-9 cm long, margins cleft and toothed, net venation
Flowers
Inflorescence a raceme, 2-17 cm, 25 or more flowers; flowers radially symmetric, sepals 3- 5, distinct, 2-4.5 mm, circular, whitish green; petals 5-10, distinct, 2-4.5 mm, spatula-shaped to wedge-shaped, clawed, cream…
Inflorescence a raceme, 2-17 cm, 25 or more flowers; flowers radially symmetric, sepals 3- 5, distinct, 2-4.5 mm, circular, whitish green; petals 5-10, distinct, 2-4.5 mm, spatula-shaped to wedge-shaped, clawed, cream coloured; stamens 15-50, inserted on receptacle, filaments thread-like; pistils 1, ovary superior
Fruits and Seeds
Berry red or white, ellipsoid to spherical, 5-11 mm, several-seeded, poisonous; seeds dark brown to reddish brown, cone- to wedge-shaped, wringled, 3-3.5 mm
Phenology
Flowers from May-June
Notes
Medical uses:
The liquid resulting from boiling the roots of A. rubra was used as a cold remedy by the Blackfoot.
A mixture of A.rubra roots with spruce needles was used to treat stomach ailments
Range/Distribution
Alberta: Widespread
CAN (BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT); USA (AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY)
Citation
Page Citation for Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-5344/12-104656. Accessed 07 Jul. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 156 specimens of this Species.
32063 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Blakiston Creek
Date Collected1965-06-21
40702 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Whitecourt Mountain
Date Collected1971-06-29
42274 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Goodwin Lake
Date Collected1968-07-25
42081 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Lac La Biche, Big Island
Date Collected1968-07-23
28075 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort McMurray
Date Collected1968-06-24
28279 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Mildred Lake
Date Collected1969-06-11
28958 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Square Lake
Date Collected1970-05-31
90195 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Barrier Lake Station
Date Collected1974-06-27
30625 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort McMurray
Date Collected1969-06-11
28179 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Beaver River
Date Collected1968-07-26
26294 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Miquelon Lake Provincial Park
Date Collected1968-06-03
90682 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Wagner Natural Area
Date Collected1973-07-31
45445 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Vine Creek
Date Collected1970-06-23
96198 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, RB Miller Biological Station
Date Collected1961-06-01
94288 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hondo
Date Collected1987-07-25
26235 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Beaverhill Lake
Date Collected1968-05-27
80722 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Lloydminster
Date Collected1976-07-08
27742 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Medicine Lake
Date Collected1968-08-27
37321 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Saskatchewan
Date Collected1971-06-23
27678 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Buck Lake
Date Collected1968-08-26
84723 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Caribou Mountains
Date Collected1976-08-20