Herbs, perennial, clump-forming, 5–15(–20) dm, herbage glabrous or sparsely to densely hairy, hairs simple, straight to curved, sometimes multicellular or glandular; rhizomatous, rhizomes thick, branching, woody; roots coarse, fibrous. Stems 1–5, erect, stout, simple, sometimes glaucous. Leaves deciduous, cauline, alternate, 2–3-irregularly ternate to odd-pinnate, equivalent to 2–3 pinnate; petiole present, relatively long, base 1/2 sheathing stems; blade broadly ovate, cauline reduced in size and complexity distally, 15–60 cm, thick to thin, leaflets 9–45, long-petiolulate, broadly ovate to narrowly lanceolate, margins flat, [serrate to] doubly serrate, venation pinnate. Inflorescences terminal, 500–2500-flowered, racemes forming panicles; bracts present; bracteoles present hairs simple, glandular. Pedicels present. Flowers unisexual (plants dioecious, rarely polygamous), 3–4 mm diam.; epicalyx bractlets 0; hypanthium shallowly bowl-shaped, 0.5–1 mm, nectary ring inside with simple, glandular hairs; sepals persistent, 5, spreading, triangular, margins entire; petals 5, white, obovate to elliptic, base cuneate; staminate: stamens (15–)20(–30) in 1 series (between calyx and nectar ring), longer than petals; torus minute; pistillate: nectar ring scarcely developed, stamens rudimentary, carpels 3, free, glabrous, styles terminal; ovules 2–4. Fruits follicles, 3(or 4), pedicels recurving, fruits inverted, retrorse, ovate-elongate, 1.5–5 mm, shining, glabrous, dehiscent along whole adaxial suture; hypanthium persistent; sepals persistent, spreading to appressed; styles persistent, forming a beak. Seeds 2–4, elongate, membranous, caudate at both ends, scalariform-reticulate, seed coat loose. x = 7, 9.

Distribution

North America, Eurasia, temperate regions.

Discussion

Species 1.

Selected References

Mellichamp, T. L. 1976. A Comparative Study of Aruncus (Rosaceae) and Astilbe (Saxifragaceae), and the Problem of Their Relationships. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Michigan.

Lower Taxa

Aruncus dioicus