Black Snakeroot

Actaea racemosa

Pollinator Value

❄️ Winter Food Source: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) feeds on Actaea fruit, comprising 6.3% occurrence in diet studies. Fruit follicles persist into late autumn providing a minor but documented winter food source.
S57 Wild Turkey, diet_type=Occurrence, fraction=6.3%

Proximity Score: 1
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: S
CEC Eco-Regions: 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.1 – Eastern Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands
Rarity Notes: Ranked S2 (Imperiled) in Ontario with a global rank of G3 (Vulnerable). National rank N2 in Canada. Not listed under SARA. NatureServe lists native subnational populations in 15 jurisdictions including Ontario but not Quebec, where it is considered introduced. Heavy wild harvesting for the herbal supplement trade is a known threat.
S22 G3, N2-CA, S2-ON, SNA-QC; S26 not SARA listed
Rarity Ranks: QC SNA – Not Applicable, ON S2 – Imperiled
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A shade-loving perennial of rich, moist deciduous forests, wooded slopes, ravines, and creek margins. Typically found in mesic forest understories with neutral to slightly acidic soils, often in mountainous terrain from sea level to 1500 m. In Ontario ranked S2 (Imperiled) with native populations concentrated in the southern part of the province. Introduced in Quebec, where it is not considered indigenous.
S29 habitat description; S22 S2 in ON, SNA in QC; S1 introduced in QC

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 11 bee associations (threshold=3)]
Notes: A greedy plant that inhibits the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes. Best planted in woodland gardens where its allelopathic tendencies are less problematic. Tolerates juglone, making it suitable for planting near black walnuts. Its tall flowering wands and shade tolerance make it a strong companion for woodland understory guilds.
S29 allelopathic notes; S3 juglone tolerant

Category: Analgesic, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Gynecological Aid, Sedative, Tonic
S28 Cherokee+Iroquois+Delaware uses; S29 alterative, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, sedative, tonic
Notes: One of the most important medicinal plants of eastern North American Indigenous peoples. Cherokee used root infusions for rheumatic pain, colds, coughs, constipation, and as a sedative. Iroquois used root decoctions as soaks and steambaths for rheumatism, and infusions to promote lactation. Delaware combined root with elecampane and stone root as a tonic. Widely used in modern herbal medicine for menopausal symptoms; German Commission E approves it for climacteric complaints and PMS.
S28 26 Moerman uses across Cherokee, Iroquois, Delaware, Mi'kmaq, Penobscot; S29 Commission E approved

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: PFAF gives an edibility rating of 1/5. Leaves may be cooked but the plant is poisonous in large doses. Not a common food plant; any consumption requires extreme caution.
S29 edibility=1/5, leaves cooked with caution