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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/1-5344/12-69717. Accessed 13 Jul. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 156 specimens of this Species.
70738 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Clover Bar
123884 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park
Date Collected2006-07-26
124907 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2010-07-22
125948 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hoadley
Date Collected2010-07-26
126950 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Breton
Date Collected2010-06-05
129936 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Grimshaw
Date Collected1965-08-29
129937 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1966-06-03
129938 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Crow Lake
Date Collected1979-06-09
129939 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sundre Red Deer Natural Area
Date Collected1982-06-16
129940 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Pine Sands Provincial Natural Area
Date Collected1986-07-24
128470 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Date Collected1972-06-05
128758 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, No Name Creek
Date Collected1983-06-29
130908 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Westlock
Date Collected2008-08-16
134807 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hoople Lake
Date Collected2013-05-30
134241 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Chinchaga Forestry Road
Date Collected2009-07-14
136568 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton, University of Alberta
Date Collected1985-06-02
138051 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Wizard Lake
Date Collected2014-06-12
137844 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Soldan Lake
Date Collected2014-07-20
137310 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Birch Cove
Date Collected2012-06-01
135291 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Ilka's Fen
Date Collected2011-08-26
136026 - Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namered and white baneberry
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Ilka's Fen
Date Collected2009-08-21