15() AUALlACEvK. 



The genns comprises two svib-genora, Araliu proper niul Ginseiir>; 

 {I'ana.v Lima'). 



Avidia. — Flowers monfjDciously polygaiuous or perfect. Styles and 

 (u)lls of the ovary 5. Fruit black or dark ijurj)!*'. 



Aralia spinosa Liimc. — Anydica Tree, Ikrciiles Club. 



DeHcrijdion. — A shrub or low tree. Stem and ^letiolcs jirickl}'. Leaves 

 bipinnafely compound ; loatlets ovate, Herrate, acuminate, glabrous above, 

 glaucous beneath. Umbels in a very large, much-branched panicle. 

 Flowers white, ajipearing in July and August. 



Ifahildl. — In damp woods on river-banks from Pennsylvania to Florida 

 and westward. 



Aralia racemosa 'iimw.—Sp'drmiril. 



/h'scrip/ioii. — An herbaceous pei'ennial. Stem :> to .5 feet high, divari- 

 cately braiiched. Leaves ternately or cpiiuately decompound ; leaflets cor- 

 date-ovate, dfnibly serrate, acuminate, slightly imbescent. Umbels small 

 and numerous, in large doubly compound racemose panicles. Flowers 

 small, greenish-\vhite, appearing in July. The roots are large and fleshy, 

 and have, as well as the whole plant, an aromatic but not altogether 

 agreeable odor. 



I/iihilaf. — In rich woods from Canada to Georgia and westward. 



Aralia nudicaulis Linne. — 117^/ SarHapariUa. 



Description. — An herbaceous perennial. Hoot or rhizome long, jn-os- 

 trate, creeping just beneath the surface of the ground. Stem very short, 

 hearing a single long-stalked leaf and a shorter scape. Petiole 3-cleft, 

 (Mcli division pinnafcly 5-foliate ; leaflets oblong-ovat(\ or oval, serrate, 

 acuminate. Scape with 2 to 7 umbels of greenish-white flowers. Fruit 

 I)ui'plish-black. The flowers appear in -May and June. 



IJahiUtL — Li rich moist woods from Canada to the inountains of the 

 Southern States. 



(Hii.-fciKj [I'iiDii.i: Linn/')- -I'lowers diiuciously polygamous. Styles and 

 cells of the ovary 2 or M. Fruit ixmI or reddish. 



Aralia quinquefolia Decaisne and Planchon — (Panax quinqui'folium 

 Linne). — Ginsen;/. 



De.icriijtion. — An herbaceous perennial. Root large and spindle-shaped. 

 Stem 1 foot high, bearing at its sunnnit a whorl of three i)almately 15- to 7- 

 foliate leaves and a single umbel ; leaflets obovate-oblong, acmninate. 

 Peduncle naked, slender, about as long as the petioles ; flowers yellowish- 

 green, ai)pearing in July. 



Ikihitat. — In rich upland woods from Canada to the moimtains of the 

 Soutliern States. 



Pin-t.-f Vs-fcl. — Of A spinosa, the bark ; of A. racemosi, A. nudicaulis, and 

 A. quinquefolia, the root. None of the plants are official. 



Co)if<tituents. — In the bark of A. spinosa have been found two acrid res- 

 ins, a volatile oil, and what is thought to be an uncrystallizable alkaloid. 



