WHITE 313 



WHITE BANEBERRY 

 Actaea alba Crowfoot Family 



Fruit. The terminal fruit clusters of the 

 White Baneberry are oblong and usually more 

 open than those of the Red. The white berries 

 are almost globular, have a black mark at the 

 tip and a crease on one side, extending from the 

 apex to the pedicel. The pedicel is thickened 

 and usually red. The lower pedicels are much 

 longer than the upper ones. The numerous 

 large brown seeds are packed horizontally. A 

 plant with red berries on thickened red stalks 

 sometimes occurs. The fruit develops in August, 

 about a month later than the Red Baneberry, 

 and persists into September. 



Leaves. The leaves are twice or thrice com- ' 

 pound, with deeply cut, acute lobes and sharp 

 teeth. 



Flowers. The petals are so like stamens as 

 to seem to be transformed stamens. The flowers 

 yield no honey, simply pollen, to the bees, which 

 secure their cross fertilization. 



This herb grows in woods as far south as 

 Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 



