SafePlants

Tall Bugbane (Actaea elata)

Tall Bugbane, scientifically known as Actaea elata, is a captivating perennial flowering plant belonging to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Previously classified under the genus Cimicifuga, it's a subject of taxonomic reshuffling. This plant attracts botanists due to its rarity and unique characteristics.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant has sharply pointed leaves.

Considerations for Children

• The plant has sharply pointed leaves.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Actaea elata (Nutt.) Prantl
• Synonym: Cimicifuga elata Nutt.
• Common Name: Tall Bugbane
• Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
• Genus: Actaea
• Species: elata
• USDA Symbol: ACEL4

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
• Specifically found from southwestern Oregon and western Washington up to southern British Columbia.
• It is confined to the Chilliwack River Valley in British Columbia.
• Typically an understorey plant, growing beneath forests of fir, hemlock, maple, and alder.

Morphological Characteristics

• Perennial plant.
• Large-leafed.
• Reaches a height of 1 to 2 meters (3-6 feet).
• Has a dark, tuberous, horizontal rhizome.
• Stems are long, upright, with fine hairs and glands.
• Leaves are large, divided into three sections, each shallowly divided and sharply pointed.
• Flowers are arranged in showy, spray-like clusters of white.
• Flowers lack petals but possess numerous showy white stamens, attracting pollinators.
• Each flower is surrounded by five tiny sepals.

Ecological Role

• Listed as a State Sensitive species and a USFWS Species of Concern.

Quirky Facts

• Once thought to be extinct in British Columbia, with the last collection dating back to the late 1950s.
• Its common name, "Bugbane," hints at a historical use, though the text doesn't specify what bugs it banishes.
• The plant is undergoing a taxonomic shift, moving from the genus Cimicifuga to Actaea, showcasing the dynamic nature of plant classification.