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Actaea podocarpa A.P. de Candolle. Section: Podocarpae. Common name: Mountain Black-cohosh, Late Black-cohosh. Phenology: Jul-Sep. Habitat: Rich cove forests and slopes, at moderate to high elevations. Distribution: Endemic to the Southern and Central Appalachians: s. PA to w. NC, ne. GA, and e. TN; disjunct in nw. Illinois (Driftless Area) (P. Marcum, pers.comm., 2023).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Most closely related to Actaea laciniata (S. Watson) J. Compton of OR and WA.

Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, NS, Pa, POWO, Va, Compton, Culham, & Jury (1998); = Cimicifuga americana Michx. — C, F, FNA3, G, Il, RAB, S, S13, Tn, W. Basionym: Actaea podocarpa DC. 1818 [1817]

Links to other floras: = Cimicifuga americana - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Midwest: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 1

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of rich cove forests and slopes, at moderate to high elevations.

Stems: Stems simple, usually smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, 2-3 times divided into 3 leaflets and then pinnately divided into toothed segments.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in terminal, bottlebrush-like, branched racemes (to 20 in. long); creamy white, about 1/2 in. wide, with numerous white stamens and 3-8 stalked carpels.

Fruits: Fruit a flattened, stalked follicle.

Comments: Distinguished from the very similar Actaea racemosa (see p. xx) by having 3 or more carpels rather than 1.

Height: 3-5 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of rich cove forests and slopes, at moderate to high elevations.

stems: Stems simple, usually smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, 2-3 times divided into 3 leaflets and then pinnately divided into toothed segments.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in terminal, bottlebrush-like, branched racemes (to 20 in. long); creamy white, about 1/2 in. wide, with numerous white stamens and 3-8 stalked carpels.

fruits: Fruit a flattened, stalked follicle.

comments: Distinguished from the very similar Actaea racemosa (see p. xx) by having 3 or more carpels rather than 1.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States



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