Aralia nudicaulis (commonly wild sarsaparilla,[3]false sarsaparilla, shot bush, small spikenard, wild liquorice, and rabbit root) is a species of flowering plant in the ivy familyAraliaceae. It is native to northern and eastern North America.
Aralia nudicaulis is a herbaceousperennial plant with creeping underground stems. In the spring the underground stems produce compound leaves that are large and finely toothed. Tiny white flowers, typically in three, globe-shaped clusters 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in) wide, are produced on tall scapes that grow about the same height as the leaves, about 30–60 cm (12–24 in) high. The flowers bloom from May to July and develop into purple-black edible berries. The leaves go dormant in summer before the fruits ripen. The berries taste a little spicy and sweet.
The stem of the plant grows straight up from the ground and divides into a whorl of three pinnately compound leaves with 3 to 7 (most often 5) leaflets arranged on either side of a central stalk. The leaflets are ovate, acute, serrate, and green.[4] Technically, all the leaflets on one plant are considered to be one entire leaf, and the stems that connect the leaflets are called rachis; this arrangement is called doubly compound. In some cases some of the leaflets are further completely subdivided, forming a triply compound pattern.
Aralia nudicaulis is similar to Aralia hispida (Bristly Sarsaparilla),[3] which is a little larger with stems covered with bristly hairs, hence the name. The stems of A. nudicaulis are smooth.[5]
Aralia nudicaulis is sometimes called fool's sang since it is often confused with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), another member of the ivy family (Araliaceae). The two species may be distinguished by their leaves. As described above, Aralia nudicaulis has pinnately compound leaves while Panax quinquefolius has palmately compound leaves (with leaflets radiating from a single point).[6]
This plant is so common in certain ecologies that it is an indicator species for these Eastern Forests of North America: Northern Hardwood Forest, Beech-Maple Forest, and Oak-Hickory Forest.[7] Also common in the Interior Cedar Hemlock forest ecosystem in central and southern British Columbia.
Because it sometimes grows with groups of 3 leaflets, it can be mistaken for poison ivy; the way to tell the difference is that Wild Sarsaparilla lacks a woody base and has fine teeth along the edges of the leaves.[8]
The roots have been used as substitutes for true Sarsaparilla (Smilax sp.) in herbal medicine.
Whole plant
Seeds
Plant parts
Flowers
Referencesedit
^NatureServe (2024). "Aralia nudicaulis". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
^ abDickinson, T.; Metsger, G.; Hull, J.; and Dickinson, R. (2004) The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 140.
^Thomas A. Naegele, DO from his 1970s book Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Great lakes
^Firestone, Chris K. (April 1, 2022). "Be aware—no foolin'!". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
^A Field Guide to Eastern Forests; 1988, 1998; John C. Kricher; Easton Press; Houghton Mifflin Company.
^The Biology of Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans) October 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Nature North
Connecticut Botanical Society: Aralia nudicaulis 2015-02-28 at the Wayback Machine
Flowering Plants in the Northern Deciduous Forest 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine - pictures of leaves, flowers, and fruit for identification
April 14, 2024
aralia, nudicaulis, commonly, wild, sarsaparilla, false, sarsaparilla, shot, bush, small, spikenard, wild, liquorice, rabbit, root, species, flowering, plant, family, araliaceae, native, northern, eastern, north, america, wild, sarsaparillaconservation, status. Aralia nudicaulis commonly wild sarsaparilla 3 false sarsaparilla shot bush small spikenard wild liquorice and rabbit root is a species of flowering plant in the ivy family Araliaceae It is native to northern and eastern North America Wild sarsaparillaConservation statusSecure NatureServe 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder ApialesFamily AraliaceaeGenus AraliaSpecies A nudicaulisBinomial nameAralia nudicaulisL Synonyms 2 List Aralia nudicaulis f abortiva Dans Aralia nudicaulis f depauperata Vict Aralia nudicaulis var elongata NashAralia nudicaulis f prolifera Apgar BrittonAralia nudicaulis var prolifera ApgarAralia nudicaulis f virescens Vict amp J Rousseau Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Habitat 4 References 5 External linksDescription editAralia nudicaulis is a herbaceous perennial plant with creeping underground stems In the spring the underground stems produce compound leaves that are large and finely toothed Tiny white flowers typically in three globe shaped clusters 4 5 cm 1 6 2 0 in wide are produced on tall scapes that grow about the same height as the leaves about 30 60 cm 12 24 in high The flowers bloom from May to July and develop into purple black edible berries The leaves go dormant in summer before the fruits ripen The berries taste a little spicy and sweet The stem of the plant grows straight up from the ground and divides into a whorl of three pinnately compound leaves with 3 to 7 most often 5 leaflets arranged on either side of a central stalk The leaflets are ovate acute serrate and green 4 Technically all the leaflets on one plant are considered to be one entire leaf and the stems that connect the leaflets are called rachis this arrangement is called doubly compound In some cases some of the leaflets are further completely subdivided forming a triply compound pattern Aralia nudicaulis is similar to Aralia hispida Bristly Sarsaparilla 3 which is a little larger with stems covered with bristly hairs hence the name The stems of A nudicaulis are smooth 5 Aralia nudicaulis is sometimes called fool s sang since it is often confused with American ginseng Panax quinquefolius another member of the ivy family Araliaceae The two species may be distinguished by their leaves As described above Aralia nudicaulis has pinnately compound leaves while Panax quinquefolius has palmately compound leaves with leaflets radiating from a single point 6 Taxonomy editThe first scientific name for Aralia nudicaulis was published by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark Species Plantarum in 1753 2 Habitat editThis plant is so common in certain ecologies that it is an indicator species for these Eastern Forests of North America Northern Hardwood Forest Beech Maple Forest and Oak Hickory Forest 7 Also common in the Interior Cedar Hemlock forest ecosystem in central and southern British Columbia Because it sometimes grows with groups of 3 leaflets it can be mistaken for poison ivy the way to tell the difference is that Wild Sarsaparilla lacks a woody base and has fine teeth along the edges of the leaves 8 The roots have been used as substitutes for true Sarsaparilla Smilax sp in herbal medicine nbsp Whole plant nbsp Seeds nbsp Plant parts nbsp FlowersReferences edit NatureServe 2024 Aralia nudicaulis Arlington Virginia Retrieved 14 January 2024 a b Aralia nudicaulis L Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 14 January 2024 a b Dickinson T Metsger G Hull J and Dickinson R 2004 The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario Toronto Royal Ontario Museum p 140 Thomas A Naegele DO from his 1970s book Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Great lakes Peterson Roger Tory McKenny Margaret 1968 A Field Guide to Wildflowers Boston Houghton Mifflin Company ISBN 0 395 18325 1 Firestone Chris K April 1 2022 Be aware no foolin Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Retrieved 14 January 2024 A Field Guide to Eastern Forests 1988 1998 John C Kricher Easton Press Houghton Mifflin Company The Biology of Poison Ivy Rhus radicans Archived October 11 2008 at the Wayback Machine Nature North Blanchan Neltje 2005 Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation External links editConnecticut Botanical Society Aralia nudicaulis Archived 2015 02 28 at the Wayback Machine Rook org Aralia nudicaulis Flowering Plants in the Northern Deciduous Forest Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine pictures of leaves flowers and fruit for identification Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aralia nudicaulis amp oldid 1195704401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
