A morphometric analysis of Actaea racemosa L. (Ranunculaceae)

Abstract

Actaea racemosa L. (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa [L.] Nutt.), Ranunculaceae, commonly known as black cohosh, is an herbaceous, perennial, medicinal plant native to the deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. Historical texts and current sales data indicate the continued popularity of this plant as an herbal remedy for over 175 years. Much of the present supply of A. racemosa is harvested from the wild. Diversity within and between populations of the species has not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to assess the morphological variation of A. racemosa and identify patterns of variation at the population and species levels. A total of 26 populations representative of a significant portion of the natural range of the species were surveyed and plant material was collected for the morphological analysis of 37 leaflet, flower, and whole plant characteristics. In total, 511 leaflet samples and 83 flower samples were examined. Several of the populations surveyed had sets of relatively unique characteristics (large leaflet measurements, tall leaves and flowers, and a large number of stamen), and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons revealed significant differences between specific populations for 20 different characteristics. No unique phenotype, however, was found. Considerable morphological plasticity was noted in the apices of the staminodia. Cluster analyses showed that the morphological variation within populations was not smaller than between population and that this variation in not influenced by their geographic distribution. INTRODUCTION Actaea racemosa L. (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa [L.] Nutt.), Ranunculaceae, commonly known as black cohosh, is an herbaceous perennial medicinal plant native to the deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. The distribution of the plant ranges from Massachusetts to Ontario, Missouri and Georgia (Kartesz, 1999), with the highest density of plants found in the Appalachian Mountains. Preparations made from A. racemosa roots and rhizomes are currently popular medicinal products in the United States and Europe for the relief of menopausal symptoms. In 2005, A. racemosa was reported to be the eighth most popular herbal supplement in the U.S. (Blumenthal, 2005). The vast majority, an estimated 96 percent, of the A. racemosa sold is collected from the wild (Lyke, 2001). Other slow growing woodland species of North American medicinal plants that have economically valuable roots, such as ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.), have been harvested to an extent that threatens the species (Robbins, 1999). Since wild populations of the plant are declining and continued dependence on wild sources could easily cause the species to become threatened (Lyke, 2001), efforts are being made to Gardner et al.: A morphometric analysis of Actaea racemosa L. (Ranunculaceae)