Aruncus dioicus (Walter) Fernald
goatsbeard (bride's feathers; goat's-beard)
Rosaceae (Rose family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
goatsbeard (bride's feathers; goat's-beard)
Rosaceae (Rose family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Aruncus dioicus var. acuminatus
Species Information
General:
Robust perennial herb from stout short-creeping rhizome; stems several, erect to ascending, 1-2 m tall, smooth.
Leaves:
Alternate, 10-60 cm long, long-stalked, the lower leaves usually three times compound, the leaflets egg-shaped to narrowly oblong, sharply double-toothed and pointed, 3-15 cm long, the upper leaves smaller and less compounded; green and usually smooth above, hairy and paler below.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a large, elongated, terminal panicle with numerous spike-like branches of tiny, short-stalked flowers; male and female flowers on separate plants; corollas white, the petals 5, oblong to egg-shaped, about 1 mm long; calyces 5-toothed, the teeth shorter than the petals; ovaries superior; pistils 3 (4 or 5) in female flowers; stamens 15 to 30 in male flowers.
Fruits:
Follicles, bent back, more or less cylindric, somewhat leathery, straw-coloured, smooth, about 3 mm long; seeds 2 to 4 per follicle, about 2 mm long.
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Aruncus dioicus
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
769 | 0 | 2750 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
22 | 0 | 145 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
9 | 0 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
4 | 0 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
842 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
CWH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(1), BWBS(3), CWH(231), ESSF(141), ICH(203), IDF(4), MH(5), MS(13), SBPS(1), SBS(190), SWB(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Moist to wet ravines, rocky ledges, avalanche tracks, streambanks, forest edges and openings in the low land and montane zones; common in BC south of 55degreeN, rare northward; circumboreal, N to AK and S to CA; Eurasia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Aruncus sylvester
Aruncus sylvester var. vulgaris
Taxonomic Notes
A strong but graceful plant with tall, creamy plumes that liven up any woodland garden with height and presence. Quite long-flowering in moist spots.
Note Author: Gary Lewis, Phoenix Perennials |