Scientific Family
Araliaceae
Synonyms
Aralia bicrenata, Aralia racemosa var. foliosa
Other common names
small spikenard
Indian root
spice berry
spignet
petty morel
life-of-man
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Aralia nudicaulis, A. hispada
Height
To 6-1/2 feet
Riparian
No
Shrub-like plant with spicy-aromatic roots, pale yellow to white round flower clusters and showy berries that turn dark purple when mature. Dark maroon stems may be smooth or hairy, are thornless and widely branching with leaves over 2 feet long.
Bright green, alternate, ovate leaves with serrated margins; small sprays of delicate 5-petaled pale yellow to white flowers, petals triangular, bent backward from a rounded and raised center, protruding white stamens and stigmas.
Habitat
Rich, moist soils in coniferous forests and thickets usually in shade or partial shade.
Plant Community
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
The main flower stalk grows to 12 inches long, and consists of many rounded flower clusters (umbrella-shaped) on separate stalks. Each flower in the cluster has a stem covered with short white hairs and 5 small triangular petals that bend backward.
Flower color
Pale yellow to white
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are over 2 feet long, feather-shaped, with 9 to 21 leaflets each up to 5-1/2 inches long. Oval leaflets are heart-shaped at the base, narrowing to a pointed tip, sharply toothed, often with fine hairs along the underside of leaf veins when mature.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Bright green
Leaf shape
Other
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is rounded and fleshy, berry-like, up to 1/4 inch in diameter, 5-sectioned, reddish-brown at first but then turning dark purple when mature and containing several small seeds; resembles elderberries when fully ripened.
Fruit type
Berry-like
Fruit color
Reddish-brown to dark purple
Seeds are small ranging from light brown to tan in color.