Bride's Feathers, Goatsbeard, Sylvan Goatsbeard
Aruncus sylvester var. acuminatus
Synonyms: Aruncus acuminatus, Aruncus dioicus var. pubescens, Aruncus sylvester, Aruncus sylvester var. acuminatus, Aruncus vulgaris
Characteristics:
Goatsbeard is an attractive shrub with several erect or spreading stems from 1-2 meters tall. It makes an interesting addition to the woodland garden. The leaves are numerous, pinnately compound, and found mostly alternating on the stem. The petioles are long and the blades of the leaflets are ovate to oblong-lanceolate with pointed tips. Each may be as much as 15 cm long and up to 8 cm wide. The leaves are bi- or tri-pinnate. The margins of the leaflets are sharply double-toothed, and the upper surfaces of the leaflets are smooth and dark green while the lower surfaces are paler and hairy.
The flowers are found in long panicles from 10-50 cm long. The 5 petals are each white and about 1 mm long. The flowers are either pistillate or staminate.
Habitat:
Goatsbeard is found in moist woods and along streams within its range.
Goatsbeard is found from Alaska south to northwestern California. It is found west of the Cascades in Washington, but over much of Oregon. In British Columbia, it is found eastward to the Selkirk Mts. Its also found in Japan, Kamchatka, and over much of Eurasia.
It may be found in the Columbia River Gorge between the elevations of 100'-4000' from the western approaches to the gorge to as far east as Hood River, OR.
