Practical
Plants

Actaea pachypoda

White Baneberry

a perennial member of the Actaea genus in the family Ranunculaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Actaea
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.8 m
Spread
0.45 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant are toxic, causing severe gastrointestinal inflammation and skin blisters[4].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant, but especially the root, is anticonvulsive, antirheumatic, emmenagogue, mildly hypnotic, oxytocic and stimulant[2][6]. Use with caution, see the notes above on toxicity[4]. A decoction of the roots has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds, rheumatism and syphilis[3][6]. It is also used in small doses to ease the pain of childbirth[4] and is used as a stimulant to revive and rally patients at the point of death[6]. An infusion of the roots has been used externally to treat itchy skin and as a gargle for sore throats[6]. An infusion of leaves was drunk by the women of some Indian tribes in order to stimulate the flow of milk[3].

Product or use
Antipruritic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Galactogogue
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Oxytoxic
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
VD

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - S. Canada to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and Minnesota.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, less often with pines, junipers, or other conifers[7].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame or in a sheltered outdoor bed[1]. Completely remove the seed pulp since this can inhibit germination. Stored seed does not usually germinate well[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer of the following year. Division in spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tolerates most conditions[5], but prefers a humus-rich moist soil in light shade[1][5]. Grows best in the wild or woodland garden[1]. This species is closely related to A. rubra[1].

References

  1. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  3. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  4. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Flora of N. America http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/

    ↩

Edit this page