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Araliaceae
Aralia

Aralia racemosa Linnaeus. Common name: Spikenard, Hungry-root, Spignet, Petty-Morrel, Life-of-Man, Old-Man's-Root. Phenology: Jun-Aug. Habitat: Rich woodlands, trail margin and roadsides. Distribution: NB and QC west to MB, MN, and e. SD, south to nw. SC. N. GA, n. AL, n. MS, c. AR, e. KS.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The related A. bicrenata Wooton & Standley (sometimes treated as a subspecies of A. racemosa or simply included in it) occurs in AZ, NM, TX, and n. Mexico (Wen 2011).

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, FNA13, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, Frodin & Govaerts (2003), Smith (1944), Smith (1982a), Wen (2011); = Aralia racemosa L. ssp. racemosa — NE. Basionym: Aralia racemosa L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Aralia racemosa - 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 ⓘ: 3

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image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Mark Kluge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mark Kluge source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Amanda Faucette | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Nate Hartley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nate Hartley source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J. Burke Korol, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by J. Burke Korol source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J. Burke Korol, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by J. Burke Korol source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Amanda Faucette | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jennifer Ogle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jennifer Ogle source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, somewhat woody and bushy appearing perennial of rich woodlands, trail margins and roadsides.

Stems: Stems stout, branched, dark maroon, smooth or slightly hairy.

Leaves: Leaves few, alternate, long-petioled, to 30 in. long, pinnately divided or first divided into 3 and then leaflets pinnately divided; ultimate leaflets oval with heart-shaped bases (these sometimes asymmetric) and toothed and slightly furry.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in long (12-18 in.) spike rising above leaves and composed of numerous rounded umbels; greenish-white, 1/8 in. wide, consisting of 5 petals, 5 sepals and 5 protruding stamens.

Fruits: Fruit a reddish to dark-purple, round berry.

Comments:

Height: 3-5 ft.

plant sale text: American Spikenard produces many small white to pale green flowers that are grouped in large panicles. Its flowers mature and develop into purple berries, darkening as they ripen. On established plants, this southeastern native species’ unusual display of flowers and fruit is quite spectacular.This member of the ginseng family usually grows in rich woods and on moist bluffs.  American Spikenard has an extensive history of medicinal use by many Indigenous communities throughout its range. Its height is usually around 3 feet, occasionally reaching as much as 6 feet. Established plants spread over time to a width of 4 to 6 feet.  

bloom table text:

description: Erect, somewhat woody and bushy appearing perennial of rich woodlands, trail margins and roadsides.

stems: Stems stout, branched, dark maroon, smooth or slightly hairy.

leaves: Leaves few, alternate, long-petioled, to 30 in. long, pinnately divided or first divided into 3 and then leaflets pinnately divided; ultimate leaflets oval with heart-shaped bases (these sometimes asymmetric) and toothed and slightly furry.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in long (12-18 in.) spike rising above leaves and composed of numerous rounded umbels; greenish-white, 1/8 in. wide, consisting of 5 petals, 5 sepals and 5 protruding stamens.

fruits: Fruit a reddish to dark-purple, round berry.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern & central North America



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