Black Cohosh

Common name: Black Cohosh (Black Snakeroot; Bugbane)

Scientific name: Cimicifuga racemosa

Dimensions:
  Flower: About 1/2" (1.5 cm) wide
  Plant height: 3-8' (90-240 cm)


Blooming period: June-August

Habitat: Moist, rich woods

Description: Numerous small white flowers grown in several long, narrow clusters of wand-like racemes (blooming from bottom up), each 8-30" (24-75 cm) long; 4-5 sepals that drop off as flower opens leaving numerous tufted stamens; 1 pistil; petals are absent. Stalked compound leaves are usually divided into 3s and further subdivided into 3s; egg- shaped or oblong leaflets sharply toothed, each up to 4" (10 cm) long. The plant is known for its bad odor that repels bugs: thus the common name Bugbane and the scientific name taken from the Latin cimex ("a bug") and fugere ("to flee"). Buttercup family. (July 23)