Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd.
Red baneberry, red cohosh, snakeberry, cohosh
Red baneberry is called baneberry because of its poisonous nature. It is a North American native.
Plants: Red baneberry is 1–3′ (30–91 cm) high.
Leaves: On all of the baneberries, leaves often occur in groups of three, on thin stems, and are saw-toothed. Individual leaves are somewhat divided into three sections.
Flowers: Flowerheads are roughly spherical (racemes) of small white flowers ¼″ (6.3 mm) across, with a roselike odor. Flowerheads appear soft and feathery.
Fruits: Berries are oval when green, becoming rounder and bright or dark red when ripe.
Edibility: 
All parts of this plant are poisonous. Causes burning of the mouth and throat, salivation, stomach cramps, headache, diarrhea, dizziness,
and hallucinations. Berries have caused fatalities in children.
Habitats: Clay to coarse loamy upland soils, in hardwood and mixed forest stands.
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Some similar species. |
Online References:
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 6″ (14 × 15 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
9/10/2014 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts 
5/26/2024 · McLaughlin Garden and Homestead, South Paris, Maine 
7/10/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 31 cm) 
7/17/2011 · By John W. Kent 
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 2½′ (116 × 77 cm) ID is uncertain 
5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts 
5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts 
6/27/2026 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 7 × 7″ (17 × 17 cm) 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm) 
5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 2½′ (83 × 77 cm) ID is uncertain 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 5″ (15 × 12 cm) 
7/12/2015 · Smuggler’s Notch, Cambridge, Vermont · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (42 × 41 cm) 
7/12/2015 · Smuggler’s Notch, Cambridge, Vermont · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others |
| Order | Ranunculales | Basal (evolved earlier) eudicots, also called “true dicots” |
| Family | Ranunculaceae | Buttercup family |
| Genus | Actaea | From ancient Greek, signifying a wet habitat and its leaves’ similarity to Sambucus leaves |
| Species | rubra | From the Latin ruber or rubra meaning “red” |
Actaea rubra description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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