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Ranunculaceae
Actaea

not marked as a favorite taxon Actaea rubifolia (Kearney) Kartesz. Common name: Appalachian Black-cohosh. Phenology: Aug-Oct. Habitat: Rich cove forests over calcareous rocks (limestone or dolostone), westwards in shaded sandstone ravines. Distribution: Sw. VA south to e. TN; disjunct in s. IL, w. KY, nw. TN, and nc. AL.

Glossary (beta!)

Section: Oligocarpae.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: This species is alleged by Cronquist (1991) to occur in NC, but this is probably an error, based on confusion with Cimicifuga cordifolia Pursh, now considered a form of Actaea racemosa. For this reason, the name Actaea cordifolia used by Compton, Culham, & Jury (1998) does not apply to this taxon. Actaea rubifolia is related to Actaea elata (Nuttall) Prantl of nw. North America.

Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, NS, Va; = Actaea cordifolia DC. — POWO, Compton, Culham, & Jury (1998), misapplied; = Cimicifuga rubifolia Kearney — C, FNA3, Il, S, S13, Tn, W; = n/a — Pa; < Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. — G; >< Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. var. cordifolia (Pursh) Gray — F, misapplied in part. Basionym: Cimicifuga rubifolia Kearney 1897

Links to other floras: = Cimicifuga rubifolia - FNA3

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Heliophily ⓘ: 2

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image #1 of Actaea rubifolia© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Actaea rubifolia© Shelby Lyn Sanders, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shelby Lyn Sanders source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Actaea rubifolia© Matt Tomlinson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matt Tomlinson source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Actaea rubifolia© Jared Gorrell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jared Gorrell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷ Warning: was NOT research grade.
image #5 of Actaea rubifolia© Shelby Lyn Sanders, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shelby Lyn Sanders source CC-BY-NC | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of rich cove forests over calcareous rocks (limestone or dolostone).

Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petioles grooved and hairy, large and horizontal, 1-2 times ternately divided into 3-9(-17) coarsely and irregularly toothed leaflets, with the terminal leaflet deeply 3- to 5-lobed and most leaflets with notched (heart-shaped) bases.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in terminal cluster of erect racemes, held above the leaves; white, consisting of 5 petal-like, curved sepals that drop early and a bushy cluster of stamens surrounding 1-2 ovaries.

Fruits: Fruit a flattened, oblong follicle

Comments:

Height: 1-4 1/2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect, rhizomatous perennial of rich cove forests over calcareous rocks (limestone or dolostone).

stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petioles grooved and hairy, large and horizontal, 1-2 times ternately divided into 3-9(-17) coarsely and irregularly toothed leaflets, with the terminal leaflet deeply 3- to 5-lobed and most leaflets with notched (heart-shaped) bases.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in terminal cluster of erect racemes, held above the leaves; white, consisting of 5 petal-like, curved sepals that drop early and a bushy cluster of stamens surrounding 1-2 ovaries.

fruits: Fruit a flattened, oblong follicle

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: