White Baneberry

White Baneberry

Actaea pachypoda

White Baneberry is more commonly known as Doll's Eyes, which is a great name for it since the fruits could easily be plucked and plopped into  some china doll's eye sockets.

The plant is 1-3 feet tall and really stands out in a nice woodland setting.  It is named Baneberry for a reason.  The berries, and for that matter the whole plant, is toxic.  It is in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), of which all species have a chemical called Ranunculin.  This is a fairly complicated chemical that can cause all sorts of problems if ingested, which happens more with farm animals that with people.  Don't let your kids play with the berries!



The 2-3 foot plants grow in rich woods

The flowerheads can really stand out during a walk through the woods