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 margins 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.
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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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Amanda Faucette | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Amanda Faucette | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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:
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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