page_title: Actaea racemosa
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Actaea racemosa / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Actaea racemosa, Ranunculaceae, Black Cohosh, Black Bugbane or Black Snakeroot, Fairy Candle, inflorescence. Stutensee, Germany. Deutsch: Actaea racemosa, Ranunculaceae, Trauben-Silberkerze, Schlangenwurzel, Amerikanisches Christophskraut, Hohes Christophskraut, Staudiges Christophskraut, Frauenwurzel, Klapperschlangenkraut, Schwindsuchtwurzel, Traubenförmige Schwarzwurz, Wanzenkraut, Infloreszenz. Stutensee, Deutschland.
context_page_description: Actaea racemosa, the black cohosh, black bugbane, black snakeroot, or fairy candle, is a species of flowering plant of the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to eastern North America from the extreme south of Ontario to central Georgia, and west to Missouri and Arkansas. It grows in a variety of woodland habitats, and is often found in small woodland openings. The roots and rhizomes were used in traditional medicine by Native Americans. Although its extracts are manufactured as herbal medicines and dietary supplements, black cohosh is not well-studied or recommended for safe and effective use in treating menopause symptoms or any disease.
context_section_description: Black cohosh is a smooth (glabrous) herbaceous perennial plant that produces large, compound leaves from an underground rhizome, reaching a height of 25–60 cm (9.8–23.6 in). The basal leaves are up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long and broad, forming repeated sets of three leaflets (tripinnately compound) having a coarsely toothed (serrated) margin. The flowers are produced in late spring and early summer on a tall stem, 75–250 cm (30–98 in) tall, forming racemes up to 50 cm (20 in) long. The flowers have no petals or sepals, and consist of tight clusters of 55–110 white, 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long stamens surrounding a white stigma. The flowers have a distinctly sweet, fetid smell that attracts flies, gnats, and beetles. The fruit is a dry follicle 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long, with one carpel, containing several seeds.
caption: Actaea racemosa inflorescence
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