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Genus 5. Aralia. Class Y. Pentandria. Order V. Pentagynias 
Species 1 . Thorny Aralia, or Angelica Tree. (Aralia Spinosa.) 
This rises with a woody stem to the height of eight or ten feet, dividing into several branches, 
with branching leaves, composed of many divaricated wings, with oblong leaflets; the ribs of the 
leaves, as also the branches and stem, are armed with strong crooked spines, rendering the places 
where the plants grow in plenty very difficult to pass through. The flowers are produced in large 
loose umbels, at the extremities of the branches, and being of an herbaceous colour make no great 
figure. It is native of Virginia, whence it was sent to England by Banister, and was cultivated in 
1688, by Bishop Compton, at Eulham. Mr. Ray also mentions, that there was then a tree of this 
species in the botanic garden at Chelsea, which was above the human stature, and thicker than 
a man's arm. It had not then flowered here.* 
Species 2. Terry-bearing Aralia. (Aralia Racemosa.) 
This reaches only three or four feet high, and therefore can scarcely come in as a tree. It pro¬ 
duces round berries, which when ripe are black. It flowers in July, and the seeds ripen in October. 
Native of Canada; where the berries are eaten, and both leaves and roots are used as salads and 
potherbs by the Indians and French.q- 
Species 3. Naked-stalked Aralia. (Aralia NudicAulis.) 
It rises nearly to the same height as the former. The flower-stalks spring immediately from the 
root, and are terminated by round umbels of flowers, in shape and colour like the foregoing; but 
the berries are smaller. This flowers towards the end of July, and the seeds ripen late in the 
autumn. The roots were formerly brought over and sold for Sarsaparilla, and some of the inhabit¬ 
ants of Canada make use of it as such, but it is very different from the true sort. Native of Virginia 
and Canada. Linnaeus says, there is one very like it, and perhaps the same, in Java. 
This and the foregoing were cultivated by Mr. Miller, in 17314 
CULTURE. 
Species 1. This is propagated by seeds, which are easily procured from North America; but as they 
seldom arrive here till toward the spring, the plants never come up the first year: therefore when 
the seeds arrive, they should be sown in pots, filled with light earth, and placed in a shady situation, 
where they may remain until the next autumn, being careful to weed the pots constantly: otherwise 
if weeds are permitted to grow till they are large, they cannot be taken out, without drawing up 
the seeds with their roots. In the autumn, the pots should either be plunged into an old bed of 
tan, or planted in a warm border under the shelter of a hedge or wall; and if the winter proves 
severe, it will be proper to cover the pots with straw or peas-haulm, to prevent the frost from pene¬ 
trating deep into the ground. In March the pots should be plunged into a moderate hot-bed, 
which will bring up the plants early, so that they will have more time to get strength before the 
following winter. When the plants come up, they should be frequently refreshed with water, and 
* Ray’s Hist. 
•j- Parkinson. 
X Hort. Kew. 
