Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt. - Black Cohosh Family -
Ranunculaceae Stems - Flowering stems to +2m tall, erect,
glabrous, glaucous, from a woody caudex, herbaceous, green but
purple at the nodes. Leaves - Basal and alternate, petiolate,
glabrous, to 1m broad, -1m long, ternately divided, purple at
the joints. Ultimate leaflets serrate, green adaxially, silvery-
green abaxially, with a few hairs abaxially on the veins.
Serrations of margin with a lighter green or yellowish apex.
Veins of leaflets impressed adaxially. Leaves of the flowering
stem reduced to bracts. Inflorescence - Terminal and axillary
racemes to +/-50cm long. Axis of the inflorescence tomentoulose.
Pedicels to 6cm long in flower, slightly longer in fruit,
whitish tomentose. Each pedicel subtended by a minute bract.
Bracts attenuate, 1-3mm long. Flowers - Apetalous, Asepalous,
fetid. Stamens many, +/-100. Filaments white, filiform,
glabrous, to 5mm long. Anthers white, 1mm long. Ovary superior,
white, tomentose, obliquely ovoid, 2.5mm long in f