Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra): white Minnesota wildflowers

Red Baneberry

Plant Info
Also known as:
Scientific name:	Actaea rubra
Family:	Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	shade to part sun; woods
Bloom season:	spring
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: Flowers are in a round cluster about 2 inches tall at the end of a long flower stalk. Individual flowers are about ¼ inch across, with 4 to 10 white spear-shaped petals and numerous white tipped stamen that are much longer than the petals. The petals drop off shortly after the flower blooms. One plant has 1 to a few flower heads.
Leaves:: Leaves are twice compound with 3 or 5 leaflets in each group. Leaflets are up to 2 inches long and wide, with sharp coarse teeth, rounded at the base and pointed at the tip. Leaflets may be divided into 2 or 3 lobes.
Fruit:: The fruit is a glossy red berry on a slender green stalk. There is a dark spot on the tip end of each berry.
The berries are occasionally white.
Notes:: There is also a species called White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) that is nearly identical. White Baneberry tends to be a slightly larger plant, but the most distinguishing characteristic is the stalk on the individual flowers and fruit. Red Baneberry has slender green stems, where White Baneberry has thick reddish stems.