@ 4. Actaea. iL. Baneberry, 
a Erect perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, bi- or tri-ternately 
compound. Flowers small, white, ina terminal spike-like raceme. Sepals 
commonly 4, petal-like, quickly deciduous. Petals several, indefinite in’. a 
number, resembling sterile stamens or wanting. Stamens numerous , ‘forming. - 
the showy part of the flower. Pistil 1. Fru k 
deicioon 
Qo ese 
1. A. arguta Nutt. ——— Stems one or two, 60-90 cm. tall, from a short 
horizontal slender rootstock; leaves 1-2, ovate to reniform in outline, 
30-50 cme long, ternately divided, the divisions again divided, bearing 
either 3-5 leaflets or frequently bipinnately divided, the ultimte seg- 
ments bearing 3-5 leaflets; leaflets 3-6 cm. long, ovate to lanceolate, 
irregularly toothed or incised, the terminal commonly obovate, 1-5 lobed, 
cuneate to truncate, glabrous; ’ poticles—h0=20-omrbeng;-orespintp raceme 
éneeetpen dense and ’ spike-like , 2-4 cme long, frequently elongating in fruit 
to 15 cm., subtended by a small leaf, lightly pubescent; pedicels white, 
8-10 mm. longs @eebeneeep petals white, 5-4 mm. long, spatulate, 
often wanting; «eeWwerwery;ereseay anthers less than 1 mm. long, the 
filaments slender, 4-8 mn. long, dilated above; berry 5-8 mm. long, bright 
a redg or pure white, oval, highly polished, the pedicels imtewit 1-2 cm. 
long >\slenders seeds 3 mn. long, strongly compressed , in two rows along 
the ‘syture. meee eburnea Rydb. ). 
qi) ane Common throughout our region in rather moist woods and shaded stream 
; ‘ ot pottoms, 2500 to 5000 feet. | 
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