CHAP. LIX. 



ARALIA CE^. HE. DERA. 



999 



Derivation. According to some, from ara, annoyance, the spines being very troublesome, in its 

 native country, to travellers; but, according to others, a name of unknown meaning, under which 

 one species was sent to Fagon, at Paris, from Quebec, in IT&t, by one Sarrazin, a trench phy. 

 Sician. 



Description. A shrub, with a single stem, having the habit of a tree ; and 

 bearing large conipositely divided leaves, peculiar in character among shrubs, 

 and very interesting. 



a 1. A. SPINOUS A L. The spiny Aralia, or Angelica Tree. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., p. 392. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. j89. ; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. 



Si/nonynies. Aralie, Fr. and Ger. ; Spikenard, N. Amer. 



Engravings. Schmidt Arb., t. lU'J. and t. 103.; Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 116. ; and onr fig. i^. 



Spec. Char., c^-c. Stem arboreous and prickly. Leaves doubly and trebly 

 pinnate. Leaflets ovate, acuminated, and deeply serrated. Panicle much 

 branched, beset with ..^Svi^cnt aS^i&^.'i 



velvety stellate down. 

 Umbels numerous. 

 Involucre small, of 

 few leaves. Petals 

 white and reflexed. 

 Styles 5, divaricate, 

 arched. Fruit 5-rib- 

 bed. {Don^s JMill., iii. 

 p. 389.) A tree, 

 growing to the height 

 of 10 ftt or 12 ft., with 

 a single erect stem ; 

 a native of Carolina 

 and Virginia, in low, 

 fertile, moist woods. 

 Introduced in 1688 ; and flowering in August and September. An infu- 

 sion of the fruit, in wine or spirits, is considered an effectual cure for the 

 rheumatism. In British gardens, this species is propagated by cuttings 

 of the roots ; and, from its large doubly and trebly pinnate leaves, it forms 

 a singularly ornamental plant, with a spreading, umbrella-like head, when 

 standing singly on a lawn. After the plant flowers, the stem commonly dies 

 down to the ground, like that of the raspberry, and like it, is succeeded 

 by suckers. Pursh " mentions a variety in which the petioles of the leaves 

 are without pi-ickles." It is found in South Carolina, near Charleston. 



There are some other suffruticose species of ArJilia, hardy or half-hardy, natives of North or South 

 America, such as .i. hispida, Bot. Cab. t. 1306., which are barely shrubby ; and some shrubby species, 

 natives of Japan, Cochin-China, or New Zealand, which are not yet sufficiently known, and have 

 not been introduced. 



Genus II. 



/fE'DERA Swartz. Thb Ivy. Lin. Syst. Pent-Decandria, and Pent- 



Decagynia. 



Identification. Swartz Fl. Ind. Occ, p. 581. ; D. Don Prod. Nep., p. 186.: Dec. Prod., i. p. 261. : 



Don's Mill., 3. p. 391. 

 Synonymcs. Aralia, sect. Gymn6pterum Blum. Bijdr., p. 871. ; i/^dera, and Ar&lia sp. Lin. ; Lierre, 



Fr. ; Ephen, Ger. 

 Derivation. Various etymologies have been proposed for the word Z/tdera ; but the most probable 



supposition appears to be, that it is derived from the Celtic word hedira, a cord. The English 



word Ivy is derived from the Celtic word, iu\ green. 



Description. The hardy sorts are evergreen shrubs, climbing by the clasping 

 roots produced by their stems ; but there are a number of species considered 

 at present to be of this genus, natives of warm climates, growing to the height 

 of from 15 ft. to 20 ft. without support. 



