Cimicifugeae Explained

The Cimicifugeae are a tribe of flowering plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae, based on the now obsolete genus Cimicifuga (sometimes called "bugbane" or "cohosh").^[1] The name Cimicifuga means "bed bug repeller".

In pharmacology, Cimicifugae rhizoma is a herbal medicine (Cimicifuga/Actea root), translated as Sheng ma, a Chinese root preparation.

Genera

1. Actaea L. - of which Cimicifuga is a synonym.^[2]
2. Anemonopsis Siebold & Zucc. (monotypic)
3. Beesia Balf.f. & W.W.Sm.
4. Eranthis Salisb.
5. †Paleoactaea Pigg & DeVore, 2005

Selected Cimicifuga species

• Cimicifuga arizonica
• Cimicifuga dahurica - Sheng ma in Chinese
• Cimicifuga elata
• Cimicifuga europaea
• Cimicifuga heracleifolia - both used in TCM as Sheng ma in Chinese
• Cimicifuga japonica
• Cimicifuga racemosa
• Cimicifuga simplex

External links

• Flora of North America: Cimicifuga
• Flora of China: Cimicifuga
• The Plant List: "Actaea"

Notes and References

1. Cimicifuga. 6. 368.
2. Web site: Search results — The Plant List.