Aralia hispida Ventenat. Bristly Sarsaparilla, Dwarf Elder. Phen: Jun-Aug. Hab: Rocky woodlands, cliffs, and clearings, primarily over acidic rocks (such as quartzite, granite, and sandstone). This species appears to be strongly dependent on disturbance, such as fire, appearing in great numbers following fire where previously rare or apparently absent. Dist: NL (Labrador) and NL (Newfoundland) west to MB, south to w. VA, w. NC (?), WV, OH, IN, IL, and MN. Fernald (1950) and Smith (1944) credited this species to w. NC; the documentation is not known to me, and the species was not treated by RAB. Doug Rayner (pers. com. 2002) reported a site record of it in Polk County, NC.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy: = C, F, G, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, S, Va, W, Frodin & Govaerts (2003), Smith (1944), Smith (1982a); = n/a – RAB
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