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Actaea spicata
  • Herb Christopher

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

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Partial sun
    Partial sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Actaea spicata has 0 material uses listed
Actaea spicata has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

All parts of plant are poisonous but rarely fatal[1][2][3][4][5][6].

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Actaea spicata.

Material uses

The smell of the plant is reputed to drive away vermin[1]. A black dye is obtained from the berries when alum is used as a mordant[1][3][7][8]. The seeds contain tannin[9].

Unknown part

Dye
Repellent

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is antispasmodic, cytostatic, emetic, nervine and purgative[1][10][5][9]. In Canada the root is used in the treatment of snakebite[11]. It is also considered useful in the treatment of nervous disorders and rheumatic fever[11]. In India it is used in the treatment of rheumatism, goitre and asthma[9]. This remedy should be used with some caution, see the notes above on toxicity.

Unknown part

Antidote
Antispasmodic
Cytostatic
Nervine

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame or outdoors in a moist shaded seedbed[12]. The seed has a limited viability[12], it can also be sown in spring in a cold frame but germination rates may be poor. 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 March or October.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Actaea spicata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most conditions[13], but prefers a humus-rich moist soil in light shade doing well amongst shrubs and in light woods[14][12]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[15].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Actaea spicata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Actaea spicata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Actaea spicata
Genus
Actaea
Family
Ranunculaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[1][10][5][9][11]
Material uses & Functions
[1][3][7][8][9]
Botanic
[10][12]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
partial sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.5 x 0.5 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Beetles, Flies
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus ISBN 0-7011-2526-8 (1980-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    4. ? Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-35666-3 (1983-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
    6. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (1984-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (1969-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.2 Coventry. B. O. Wild Flowers of Kashmir Raithby, Lawrence and Co. (1923-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    13. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
    14. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    15. ? Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd ISBN 0-584-10141-4 (1977-00-00)

    "image:Illustration Actaea spicata0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Actaea spicata"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyRanunculaceae +
    Belongs to genusActaea +
    Has common nameHerb Christopher +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has fertility typeBeetles + and Flies +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageIllustration Actaea spicata0.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye + and Repellent +
    Has mature height0.5 +
    Has mature width0.5 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntidote +, Antispasmodic +, Cytostatic + and Nervine +
    Has primary imageIllustration Actaea spicata0.jpg +
    Has search nameactaea spicata + and x +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferencePartial sun +
    Has taxonomy nameActaea spicata +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +