GINSENG FAMILY. 



ARALIACEJE. 

 Wild Sarsaparilla. Aralia nvdicauUs. 



Found on moist hillsides, and along thickets, in May. 



The root sends up one tall leaf -bearing stem, from 12 to 15 inches 

 in height, and beside it a short flower-stem. 



The leaf is compound, sometimes doubly so, its leaflets long, oval, 

 and sharp-pointed at the tip, with noticeable ribs, finely notched mar- 

 gins, and, when young, a very glossy surface ; the foot-stems are 3, and 

 of equal length, forking from the summit of the round, hard-fibred, 

 shining stem. The leaf, when young, is strongly bronze-tinted ; as it 

 matures this fades, and leaves it a pleasing light green color ; the stem 

 is reddish at the joints, and near the foot. 



The greenish-white flower is very small, its 5 petals are turned 

 down on the little calyx, and the 5 long stamens are erect and alternate 

 with them. The flowers are set on foot-stems in 3 flat-topped clusters, 

 that are borne on round stems forking from the top of the main flowei'- 

 stem. 



The bronzy hue of the leaves companions the unopened buds, — by 

 the time the flower-clusters are fully abloom, the dark shining color has 

 changed to green, the leaflets have grown much larger, and spread like 

 a canopy over the blossoms. 



