199 



HERCULES' CLUB. 



Aralia spinosa, Linnaeus. 



FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTION This species belongs to the Ginseng family, Aralia - 

 ceae, which comprises about 52 genera with 4f>0 species of herbs, vines, shrubs, or trees. The 

 members are widely distributed but commonest in the tropics. The English Ivy (Hede^ra Helix 

 L.) an evergreen climber is one of its most common representatives. The Common Ginseng 

 (Panax quinquefolium), is a well-known member of this family. The flora of Pennsylvania 

 comprises 2 genera with G species. The species described here is the only tree representative 

 in North America. The genus Aralia to which it belongs comprises about 30 species, mostly 

 herbs, native to North America and Asia. 



FORM It may attain a height of 40 ft. with a diameter of 12 inches, but usually 10-20 ft. 

 in height with a diameter of 4-8 inches. Trunk may be branchless or sometimes covered with 

 stout widespreading branched. 



BARK Thin, brown outside, yellow inside, at first smooth, later divided into rounded broken 

 ridges. 



TWIGS Very stout, i- of an inch in diameter, armed with stout, scattered prickles, 

 roughened by long narrow leaf-scars which nearly encircle the twig. 



BUDS Alternate; terminal bud present, about -2 of an inch long, chestnut-brown, conical, 

 blunt-pointed. Lateral buds 1 of an inch long, flattened, often triangular. 



LEAVES Alternate, compound or doubly compound, often 3 ft. long and 2-2| ft. wide. 

 Leaflets ovate, 2-3 inches long, thick, wedge-shaped or rounded at base, sharp-pointed at 

 apex, serrate on margin, sometimes a little hairy on lower surface. Enlarged bases of the 

 leaf-petioles sheath the twigs. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, narrow, long, about half encircle the twig, taper to a point, 

 embrace lateral buds, stand in a horizontal position, i. e. their plane is often at right angles 

 to the main axis of the twig. Each leaf -scar conlains about 12 bundle-scars arranged in a curved 

 line. 



FLOWERS Appear from June to August. Each flower is usually perfect and cream white. 

 Many of them are grouped together in paaicled-umbels which occur solitary or in groups 

 often 3-4 ft. long. 



FRUIT An ovoid black berry about \ of an inch long, 5-angled, and terminated with 

 blackened persistent styles. 



WOOD Soft, brittle, weak, close-grained, brown with yellow streaks; sapwood narrow. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Hercules' Club, also known as Angelica Tree, 

 can be distinguished by its large leaves which may be once, twice, or thrice compound. The 

 leaves are the largest of our native trees. They may be 3-4 ft. long and 2-2i ft. wide. The 

 petioles have enlarged clasping bases. The terminal buds are conical and J-l of an inch long 

 and the lateral ones are triangular and 1 of an inch long. The elongated narrow leaf-scars 

 half encircle the twigs. The stout twigs and the petioles are armed. The small white flowers 

 are arranged in panicled-umbols often over 2 ft. long. Its habit of growth is unique in that 

 a number of unbranched but armed stems come up in rather dense clumps. 



RANGE Southern New York to Florida, west to Missouri and Texas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Found locally throughout the southern half of the 

 State. Not reported from the northern or northeastern parts. Local outposts of it are reported 

 from the northwestern part. 



HABITAT Prefers rich moist bottomland. Common in moist and fertile woodlands. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This species is of no commercial value. It remains 

 small, produces inferior wood, and is local and limited in its distribution. The tree grows 

 rapidly and is planted rather extensively for ornament. 



