Actaea pachypoda – Fleshy and fruity

Macleaya cordata – Dry and noisy

Two herbaceous plants from opposing continents both doing what they should; setting a store of seed to reproduce the next generation. The Actaea, native to Eastern North America is found as part of the forest floor vegetation.

From China and Japan Macleaya cordata towers to two metres and produces swathes of delicate waxy coated pods held procumbent where they clatter against one another in t

he breeze. Again a woodland plant but also found in the foothills from 100 – 800 metres.

Actaea pachypoda. Photo by Tony Garn

Actaea pachypoda

Actaea pachypoda. Photo by Tony Garn

Actaea pachypoda

Macleaya cordata. Photo by Tony Garn

Macleaya cordata

Macleaya cordata. Photo by Tony Garn

Macleaya cordata