White Baneberry, Actaea pachypoda Elliot, Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Baneberries are erect perennial woodland plants, 1 to 2 1/2 feet high, whose small white 4 to 10 part flowers occur in a cluster on a single raceme. On this white berry type of the Red Baneberry the lustrous white berries have a purple "eye" is easily noticed. In the true White Baneberry species (Actaea pachypoda Elliot), individual berries are each on a stouter, red, fleshier stalk, compared to the Red Baneberry where the stalks are much thinner and greenish. Some research has indicated that the white berry form may be due to one particular plant gene. This white form has sometimes been referred to as Actaea rubra form neglecta. The Garden staff has noted however, that the white berry form plants in the Garden have hybrid characteristics of both Actaea rubra and Actaea pachypoda. The flower cluster of A. rubra is a rounded cluster on a long stalk. The flower petals fall off early leaving the white stamens. The leaves of A. rubra are oblong coarsely toothed, alternate, 2 to 3 times 3-parted leaflets, similar to the White Baneberry except for some hair usually found on the underside. HAZARD: Baneberry plants are poisonous and the berries are considered especially poisonous. The genus name is Greek, referring to an old Greek name and the species is Latin for "red".

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Red Baneberry - White berry form	Actaea rubra Willd.	Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)	Woodland	Spring to Early Summer
Other names and notes	Baneberries are erect perennial woodland plants, 1 to 2 1/2 feet high, whose small white 4 to 10 part flowers occur in a cluster on a single raceme. On this white berry type of the Red Baneberry the lustrous white berries have a purple "eye" is easily noticed. In the true White Baneberry species (Actaea pachypoda Elliot), individual berries are each on a stouter, red, fleshier stalk, compared to the Red Baneberry where the stalks are much thinner and greenish. Some research has indicated that the white berry form may be due to one particular plant gene. This white form has sometimes been referred to as Actaea rubra form neglecta. The Garden staff has noted however, that the white berry form plants in the Garden have hybrid characteristics of both Actaea rubra and Actaea pachypoda. The flower cluster of A. rubra is a rounded cluster on a long stalk. The flower petals fall off early leaving the white stamens. The leaves of A. rubra are oblong coarsely toothed, alternate, 2 to 3 times 3-parted leaflets, similar to the White Baneberry except for some hair usually found on the underside. HAZARD: Baneberry plants are poisonous and the berries are considered especially poisonous. The genus name is Greek, referring to an old Greek name and the species is Latin for "red".