ALALIA. ARALIACE^. 285 



compound racemose panicles. — Linn. sp. 1 p. 273 ; Michx. Jl.l.p.l85; " Schk handb 



t 86 ;" Pursh, fl. 1. p. 209 ; Ton: fi.l.p. 327 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 122 ; DC. prodr. 4' 

 p. 257; Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 174 ; Beck, hot. p. 151 ; DarUngt.fl. Cost. p. 209; Torr 



^ G-r. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 646. 



Root large and thick, strongly aromatic. Stem 3-5 feet high, with spreading branches 



Leaves very large ; leaflets 2 - 6 inches long and 2 - 4 inches wide, on short stalks, nearly 

 smooth, somewhat shining underneath. Panicle 4-8 inches long. Flowers small, greenish- 

 white. Calyx 5-toothed. Petals ovate-lanceolate. Styles short, united below, at length 

 distmct and spreading above. Fruit small, dark purple. '^ 



In rich woodlands and banks of ravines ; not uncommon in the interior of the State but 

 rare near the seacoast. It is often seen in gardens. Fl. July. Fr. September. The' root 

 and berries are in great repute as aromatic tonics. They are used in the form of tincture • 

 but, as Dr. Darlmgton correctly observes, the habit of taking such medicines is perilous to the 

 patient. See Wood ^- Bache's U. S. Dispens. p. 106. 



2. Aralia nudicaulis, Linn. (Plate XL.) Wild SarsapariUa. 



Stem very short or none ; leaf mostly solitary, radical , the petiole elongated, 3-cleft each 

 division usually pmnately 5-foliolate ; leaflets ovate or oblong-oval, acuminate, sharply and 

 doubly serrate ; scape shorter than the leaf; umbels 2. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 274 • Michx i 1 

 p. 185 ; Torr. fl.l.p. 327 ; Raf. med. hot. l.t.S; Bigel. fl. Bast. p. 122 ; Beck, hot. 

 p.\5\; Darling f. fl. Cent. p. 209 ; Torr.,^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 646. 



Root (or rhizoma) long, thick and irregular, yellowish-brown, prostrate, somewhat aromatic 

 throwing up from Us extremity a solitary leaf and scape, which are clothed at the base with 

 several brownish membranaceous scales. Petiole 6- 12 inches long, 3-forked above- the 

 divisions commonly bearing 2 pairs of leaflets with an odd one, but sometimes they are bi- 

 ternately divided, each subdivision 3-foliolate : leaflets 2-4 inches or more in length, sessile 

 or on short stalks, smooth. Umbels globose : pedicels about half an inch long, "involucre 

 none. Calyx-teeth minute. Petals oblong, greenish-white, at length reflexed. Stamens 

 erect, longer than the ovary. Styles distinct, slender, shorter than the stamens. Fruit very 

 dark-purple when mature, juicy : endocarp strongly 5-angled. 



Rocky woods, in rich soils ; common. Fl. May. Fr. July. The root is officinal, and is 

 often sold and used as the genuine Sarsaparilla. Both medicines are harmless, and probably 

 nearly inert. See Wooil <^ Bache, I. c. 



3. Aralia hispida, Mchir. Wild Elder. 



Stem a little shrubby at the base, and very hispid with rigid bristles ; leaves bipinmtcly 

 compound, the petiole often hispid ; leaflets about 3 pairs with a terminal one, oblong-ovate 

 acute, incisely serralc, smooth; umbels several, terminal, somewhat corymbose ; involucre of 

 several small setaceous leaflets. — Mc/«:. fl.l.p.lQb; Vent. hort. Ccls. t. 41 ; Sims lot 



