Aralia nudicaulis Linnaeus. Common name: Wild Sarsaparilla. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Upland forests and woodlands, rocky places, most typically in rather dry places, such as ridgetop forests. Distribution: NL (Labrador) and NL (Newfoundland) west to BC, south to e. VA, c. NC, ne. GA, e. TN, IN, IL, MO, NE, CO, ID, and WA.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: A. nudicaulis may warrant removal to a separate, monotypic genus, following various studies, including Zuo, Wen, & Zhou (2017) that showed it as "basal" to Aralia + Panax.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA13, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, Frodin & Govaerts (2003), Smith (1944), Smith (1982a), Wen (2011). Basionym: Aralia nudicaulis L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Aralia nudicaulis - FNA13
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of upland forests and woodlands, usually in rocky and rather dry places, such as ridgetop forests.
Stems: Stems underground and sending up a single leaf stalk and single flowering stalk, both of which may be tinged with red.
Leaves: Leaves 1 (2), long-petioled, divided into 3 with each division pinnately divided into 3-5 oval to elliptic leaflets that are 2-5 in. long, finely toothed and smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in 3 rounded umbels at end of stalk (may be hidden beneath leaf), greenish-white, less than 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 5 incurved petals, insignificant sepals, 5 protruding stamens and a pistil with 5 styles.
Fruits: Fruit a round, dark-blue berry.
Comments:
Height: 12-18 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of upland forests and woodlands, usually in rocky and rather dry places, such as ridgetop forests.
stems: Stems underground and sending up a single leaf stalk and single flowering stalk, both of which may be tinged with red.
leaves: Leaves 1 (2), long-petioled, divided into 3 with each division pinnately divided into 3-5 oval to elliptic leaflets that are 2-5 in. long, finely toothed and smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in 3 rounded umbels at end of stalk (may be hidden beneath leaf), greenish-white, less than 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 5 incurved petals, insignificant sepals, 5 protruding stamens and a pistil with 5 styles.
fruits: Fruit a round, dark-blue berry.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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