BUTTERCUP FAMILY. Ranunculaceae. 
we 
There are only a few kinds of Actaea, tall perennials, 
with large, alternate, thrice-compound leaves and small, 
white flowers, in short, terminal clusters. The sepals 
number about four and resemble petals; the petals are 
from four to ten, or sometimes none, with claws; the 
stamens are numerous, with conspicuous white filaments; 
the one pistil has a broad, somewhat two-lobed, stigma, and 
the fruit isa large, showy, red or white, somewhat poisonous 
berry, containing many, smooth, flat seeds. 
ec chal This is a fine plant, from one to two 
‘Ailienrdtin feet tall, with a stoutish, smooth, branch- 
White ing stem and handsome leaves, prettily 
Spring, summer cut, with pointed teeth, thin and soft in 
West, except Ariz. texture, with conspicuous veins. The 
sepals and petals of the small cream-white flowers are less 
conspicuous than the numerous white stamens, which give 
a very feathery appearance to the flower-cluster, which is 
one or two inches long and speckled with the dark tips of 
the pistils. The sepals and petals drop off early and the 
stamens lengthen, so that the cluster becomes very airy 
and delicate. The general effect of the plant, which grows 
near shady mountain streams, is striking and graceful. 
It grows also in the East and is sometimes slightly sweet- 
scented, but often has an unpleasant smell. The hand- 
some, poisonous berries are oval or round, red or white, 
with a polished surface, and contain many seeds. This 
reaches an altitude of ten thousand feet. A very similar 
kind, A. viridiflora, grows in the mountains of Arizona. 
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