Family: Araliaceae
American spikenard, life-of-man
[Aralia racemosa subsp. racemosa L.]
Christopher Noll
Dennis W. Woodland
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Aralia: Latinization of an old French-Canadian name aralie which probably came from Iroquois Indian language
Plants: erect, perennial, 3'-7' tall forb; stems leafy, not bristly
Leaves: widely-spreading, sharply and often doubly toothed, the 3 main divisions pinnately-divided
Flowers: white, 5-parted; inflorescence of many, rounded umbels in a spreading, branched cluster (compound panicle) up to 12" long; blooms July
Fruits: dark purple, berry-like
Habitat: shade; woods; in rich soil
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: erect, perennial, 3'-7' tall forb; stems leafy, not bristly
Leaves: widely-spreading, sharply and often doubly toothed, the 3 main divisions pinnately-divided
Flowers: white, 5-parted; inflorescence of many, rounded umbels in a spreading, branched cluster (compound panicle) up to 12" long; blooms July
Fruits: dark purple, berry-like
Habitat: shade; woods; in rich soil
Conservation Status: Native
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 7 USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Images of seeds, fruits, embryos, etc. David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Rich or mesic woods including sugar maple woods, beech-maple forests, maple-basswood forest
Dennis W. Woodland
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Christopher Noll
Christopher Noll
Derek Anderson
Merel R. Black
Matthew L. Wagner
Matthew L. Wagner
Matthew L. Wagner
Christopher Noll
Christopher Noll
Aaron_Carlson
Christopher Noll
Aaron_Carlson
Aaron_Carlson
Aaron_Carlson
Botanical Illustration