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White Baneberry
Actaea pachypoda
41.8414, -73.4551
Field Notes
Description:
The stems were branched and the plant was about 15cm tall. The stems usually have two or three large compound leaves, each thrice divided, but I spotted this late in the season and it was leafless. Leaflets are deeply saw-toothed. Above the leaves are clusters of poisonous, white berries. This plant is sometimes called Doll's Eyes because the white fruit resembles the china eyes once used in dolls.
Habitat:
In a deciduous forest
Notes:
The entire plant, including the berries are considered poisonous to humans. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins, which have an immediate sedative effect on human cardiac muscle tissue, and are the most dangerous part of the plant. Ingestion of the berries can lead to cardiac arrest and death. However, the berries are harmless to birds, who are the plant's primary seed dispersers.
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