July 15, 2005: 12 years ago today

Collected on July 15, 2005, this specimen was found in by Ralph Thompson and Derick Poindexter.  This forest understory plant (Actaea pachypoda) is known as white baneberry or “doll’s eyes.” “Baneberry” comes from the fact that the berries are poisonous.  Most plants in this genus contain toxins that have sedative effects on human cardiac muscle, which can lead to cardiac arrest and death. In July through October, it is easy to see where the name “doll’s eyes” comes from— the berries are bright white with a black pupil like spot that looks like that of an old-fashioned porcelain doll.