Cimicifuga americana

Michaux

Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 316. 1803.

Common names: American bugbane
EndemicIllustrated
Synonyms: Cimicifuga cordifolia Pursh Cimicifuga racemosa var. cordifolia (Pursh) A. Gray
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Stems 60-250 cm, usually glabrous, rarely sparsely pubescent. Leaves: petiole rounded abaxially, 8-16 cm, broadly and shallowly grooved adaxially, glabrous, rarely with a few lax hairs in groove. Leaf blade (2-)3-ternately compound; leaflets 32-100; terminal leaflet of central segment ovate to oblong, incisely 3-lobed, 6-15 × 4-14 cm, with 3 veins arising basally, base cuneate to somewhat cordate, margins dentate to serrate, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces glabrous or glabrate; other leaflets 3-15 × 3-10 cm. Inflorescences ± lax panicles of 3-10 racemelike branches, 10-50 cm, densely short-pubescent and granular; bract 1, subtending pedicel, broadly triangular, acute, 1-3 mm; pedicel to 20 mm, granular, bracteoles present along most of pedicel, narrowly triangular, acute. Flowers: sepals 5, 3 outer white tinged red, 2 inner yellowish green; petals usually 2, rarely more, sessile, body yellowish with white lobes, ovate, 3-6 mm; nectary basal; stamens 40-70; filaments 6-10 mm; pistils 3-8, short-stipitate, body glabrous, stipe granular; style subulate, often curved; stigma minute, 0.2 mm wide. Follicles 2-4, stipitate, obovate, laterally compressed, 8-17 mm, membranous walled, glabrous. Seeds pale brown, lenticular, ca. 3.5 mm, covered with whitish, broad, lacerate scales but not apprearing cylindric.


Phenology: Flowering summer–fall (Aug–Oct).
Habitat: Moist, rich, rocky and boulder-strewn, wooded slopes and coves
Elevation: 300-2000 m

Distribution

V3 1126-distribution-map.gif

Ga., Ill., Ky., Md., N.C., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Much confusion has developed over the name Cimicifuga cordifolia Pursh. Although F. Pursh (1814, vol. 2, pp. 372-373) considered it synonymous with C. americana, several other authors have variously misapplied the name C. cordifolia to C. racemosa and C. rubifolia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Cimicifuga americana"
Gwynn W. Ramsey +
Michaux +
American bugbane +
Ga. +, Ill. +, Ky. +, Md. +, N.C. +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Va. +  and W.Va. +
300-2000 m +
Moist, rich, rocky and boulder-strewn, wooded slopes and coves +
Flowering summer–fall (Aug–Oct). +
Fl. Bor.-Amer. +
Endemic +  and Illustrated +
Cimicifuga cordifolia +  and Cimicifuga racemosa var. cordifolia +
Cimicifuga americana +
Cimicifuga +
species +