Baneberry, or HERB CHRISTOPHER

Baneberry, or HERB CHRISTOPHER (Actaea spicata), is a native of the north of Europe, occurring rarely in the north of England. It is a perennial herb, with leaves ternately compound, deeply serrate, the flowers in racemes, the berries black and poisonous. The root has been used in medicine, but is of dubious reputation; those of two North American species were in high esteem among the Indians, especially as remedies for snake-bites.