Actaea spicata, the baneberry[2] or herb Christopher,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the genus Actaea, native from Europe to western Siberia and northern Iran.[4]
Description
Actaea spicata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 65 cm (2 ft 2 in) 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 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) across.[5][6]
Taxonomy
Ripe berries
Actaea spicata was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[1] Two varieties have been recognized:[7]
- Actaea spicata var. spicata. Europe, northwestern Asia.
- Actaea spicata var. acuminata (syn. A. acuminata). Pakistan, India and the Himalayas, above 2000 m altitude.
Cultivation
Actaea spicata is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is toxic by ingestion, and is also an irritant, so requires careful handling.[8]
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