Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Actaea rubra

Actaea rubra

9.9
A North American plant that lives for many years with divided leaves, small white flowers, and bright red poisonous berries
  • noun
  • /ækˈtiːə ˈruːbrə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Actaea rubra
  • Children should be cautioned not to eat the berries of Actaea rubra, as they are highly poisonous.

Examples

  • The toxic berries of Actaea rubra should be avoided by both humans and pets.

  • In shaded woodland gardens, Actaea rubra adds a splash of red among the green foliage.

  • The Actaea rubra is often found in shady areas.

  • Many people mistake Actaea rubra for other plants.

  • Children should be cautioned not to eat the berries of Actaea rubra, as they are highly poisonous.

  • The toxic berries of Actaea rubra should be avoided by both humans and pets.

  • In shaded woodland gardens, Actaea rubra adds a splash of red among the green foliage.

Synonyms

red baneberry
vsActaea rubra
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant from North America with red poisonous berries and small white flowers

is the scientific species name rather than the common name
snakeberry
vsActaea rubra
  • US
9.9

A small woodland plant with white flowers and bright red poisonous berries

uses the formal species name rather than a regional common name
baneberry
vsActaea rubra
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant that grows in woods with clusters of small poisonous berries

applies specifically to the North American species with bright red poisonous berries

Surface Forms

Actaea rubra singular
Actaea rubras plural

Morphology

Actaea + rubrum

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species epithet). If a learner knows 'Actaea' is a genus of flowering plants and recognizes the epithet (rubra/rubrum) as indicating 'red', they can infer it refers to a red species of Actaea, but the full details (perennial habit, poisonous red berries, common name) are not predictable without botanical knowledge, so the relation is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Actaea rubra is a Latin name that points to what the plant looks like: Actaea is the plant name and rubra means 'red', because it has bright red berries. That's why the name helps you remember those red berries are 'poisonous' and should not be eaten.