506 ARALIACEAE. [Vor.. II. 
1. Aralia spindsa L. Hercules’ Club. 
Angelica or Spikenard Tree. (Fig. 2626.) 
Aralia spinosa 1,. Sp. Pl. 273. 1753. 
A shrub or tree, reaching a maximum height 
of about 40° and trunk diameter of 12’, but usu- 
ally much smaller. Stem, branches and petioles 
spiny; leaves long-petioled, bipinnate, usually 
with a leaflet at the base of each pinna; leaflets 
ovate, thick, acute or acuminate, stalked, serrate, 
dark green above, glaucous and sometimes 
slightly pubescent beneath, 1/-4’ long; umbels 
very numerous, in terminal compound panicles; 
involucels of several short bractlets; peduncles 
and pedicels pubescent; flowers white, 2’” broad; 
pedicels 3/-4’’ long in fruit; fruit ovoid, black, 
5-lobed, about 3/” long; styles distinct. 
In low grounds and along streams, southern New 
York to Florida, west to Indiana, Missouri and 
Texas, Freely planted for ornament, and sometimes 
escaping from cultivation furthernorth. June-Aug. 
Also called Wild Orange, and Toothache-tree. 
2. Aralia racemosa L. American 
Spikenard. Indian-root. (Fig. 2627.) 
Aralia racemosa I,. Sp. Pl. 273. 1753. 
Herbaceous, divergently much branched, un- é COQ O 
armed, 3°-6° high, glabrous or slightly pubes- Ne A) tes anaes OR, 
cent. Roots large and thick, aromatic; leaves y a PH ‘ THO 
ternately or rarely quinately compound, the di- 
visions pinnate; leaflets broadly ovate or orbicu- 
lar, thin, acuminate at the apex, cordate at the 
base, 2/-6’ long, sharply and doubly serrate, 
sometimes pubescent on the veins beneath; um- 
bels numerous, racemose-paniculate; peduncles 
and pedicels puberulent; involucels of a few sub- 
ulate bractlets; flowers greenish, about 1’’ broad; 
fruit nearly globular, dark purple or reddish- 
brown, about 3’ in diameter; styles united below. 
In rich woods, New Brunswick to Georgia, west 
to Minnesota and Missouri. Called also Spignet. 
July—Aug. 
3. Aralia nudicautlis L. Wild or Vir- 
ginian Sarsaparilla. (Fig. 2628.) 
Aralia nudicaulis I, Sp. Pl. 274. 1753. 
Acaulescent or nearly so. Rootstock long; leaf 
usually solitary, arising with the peduncle from 
the very short stem, both sheathed at the base 
by dry thin ovate or orbicular scales; petioles 
erect, 6’-12’ long; primary divisions of the leaf 
ternate, slender-stalked, pinnately 3-5-foliolate; 
leaflets sessile or short-stalked, oval or ovate, 
acuminate at the apex, rounded or narrowed at the 
base, finely serrate, 2’-5/ long, often pubescent 
on the veins beneath; peduncle usually shorter 
than the petiole; umbels commonly 3, simple; 
inyolucre none; pedicels slender, glabrous; 
flowers greenish, 1'4’’ broad; fruit globose, pur- 
plish-black, about 3’’ long; 5-lobed when dry. 
In woods, Newfoundland to Manitoba, North 
Carolina and Missouri. Called also Small Spike- 
nard, Rabbit-root. May-June. 
Aralia nudicaulis prolifera A. C. Apgar, Bull. Torr. Club, 14: 166. 1887. 
Leaves more divided and umbels compound. Perhaps a mere form. Western New Jersey. 
(WU) 
