''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Araliaceae The Araliaceae are a family of flowering plants composed of about 43 genera and around 1500 species consisting of primarily woody plants and some herbaceous plants commonly called the ginseng family. The morphology of Araliaceae varies widely ...

, consisting of 68 accepted

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...

s, and

rhizomatous In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

s. The genus is

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to Asia and the Americas, with most species occurring in mountain woodlands. ''Aralia'' plants vary in size, with some herbaceous species only reaching tall, while some are trees growing to tall. ''Aralia'' plants have large bipinnate (doubly compound) leaves clustered at the ends of their stems or branches; in some species the leaves are covered with bristles. The stems of some woody species are quite prickly, as in ''

Aralia spinosa ''Aralia spinosa'', commonly known as devil's walking stick, is a woody species of plant in the genus ''Aralia'' of the family Araliaceae. It is native to eastern North America. The various names refer to the viciously sharp, spiny stems, petiole ...

''. The

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are whitish or greenish occurring in terminal

panicle In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...

s, and the spherical dark purple berry-like

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

s are popular with

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

s. ''Aralia'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

species, including the

common emerald The common emerald (''Hemithea aestivaria'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species is found throughout the Nearctic and Palearctic regions and the Near East. It is mostly commonly found in the southern half of the Ireland and Britain. ...

(''Hemithea aestivaria''). There are many colours of aralia flowers. The main flower is whitish aralia. Some species, notably ''

Aralia cordata ''Aralia cordata'' is an upright herbaceous perennial plant growing up to in height, native to Japan, Korea, Russian Far East, and eastern China. Its common names include spikenard, herbal aralia, ''udo'' (from ), Japanese spikenard, and mountain ...

'', are edible and are cultivated for human consumption.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic circumscription of the

''Aralia'' has varied greatly. Species formerly included in wider views of the genus are now included in such separate genera as '' Fatsia'', ''

Macropanax ''Macropanax'' is a genus of flowering plants of the family Araliaceae, comprising 20 species. They are distributed from Central China to Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan and to western Malaysia. Species include: *''Macropanax baviensis'' *''Macropanax ...

'', ''

Oreopanax ''Oreopanax'' is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Araliaceae, comprising circa 85 species native to the Americas. Distribution ''Oreopanax'' species' range extends from Mexico and the Antilles to Argentina and Brazil, with most species ...

'', ''

Panax The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the Araliaceae (ivy) Family (biology), family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct ...

'', ''

Polyscias ''Polyscias'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araliaceae. They bear pinnately compound leaves. In 2003, a checklist and nomenclator was published for Araliaceae.David G. Frodin and Rafaël Govaerts. 2003. ''World Checklist and Bibl ...

'', ''

Pseudopanax ''Pseudopanax'' (Latin for "false ginseng") is a genus of seven species of evergreen plants that are endemic to New Zealand. Flowers of the genus occur in terminal umbels. Taxonomy A 2000 molecular study established that several species within ...

'', ''

Schefflera ''Schefflera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araliaceae with 13 species native to New Zealand and some Pacific islands. The genus is named in honor of , physician and botanist of Gdańsk, and later of Warsaw, who contributed plan ...

'', and '' Tetrapanax''. The genus ''Dimorphanthus'', formerly considered distinct by some, is now included within ''Aralia'' as a section within that genus.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

accepted the following species: *'' Aralia apioides'' Hand.-Mazz. *''

Aralia armata ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family (biology), family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizome, rhizomatous herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennials. The ge ...

'' (Wall. ex G.Don) Seem. *'' Aralia atropurpurea'' Franch. *'' Aralia bahiana'' J.Wen *'' Aralia bicrenata'' Wooton & Standl. *'' Aralia bipinnata'' Blanco *'' Aralia cachemirica'' Decne. *''

Aralia caesia ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occu ...

'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Aralia californica'' S.Watson *'' Aralia castanopsicola'' (Hayata) J.Wen *'' Aralia chinensis'' L. *'' Aralia continentalis'' Kitag. *''

'' Thunb. *''

Aralia dasyphylla ''Aralia dasyphylla'' is a species in the plant genus '' Aralia'', family Araliaceae. Its native range is western Malesia (Java, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra). Some sources include ''Aralia dasyphylloides ''Aralia dasyphylloides'' is a spec ...

'' Miq. *''

Aralia dasyphylloides ''Aralia dasyphylloides'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae, native to south China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceedin ...

'' (Hand.-Mazz.) J.Wen *'' Aralia debilis'' J.Wen *'' Aralia decaisneana'' Hance *'' Aralia delavayi'' J.Wen *'' Aralia devendrae'' Pusalkar *''

Aralia duplex ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family (biology), family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizome, rhizomatous herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, perennials. The ge ...

'' R.Chaves *'' Aralia echinocaulis'' Hand.-Mazz. *''

Aralia elata ''Aralia elata'', also known as the Japanese angelica tree, Chinese angelica-tree, or Korean angelica-tree, is a species of woody plant in the family (biology), family Araliaceae native plant, native to eastern Asia (in Russia, China, Taiwan, the ...

'' (Miq.) Seem. *'' Aralia excelsa'' (Griseb.) J.Wen *'' Aralia fargesii'' Franch. *'' Aralia ferox'' Miq. *'' Aralia finlaysoniana'' (Wall. ex G.Don) Seem. *'' Aralia foliolosa'' Seem. ex C.B.Clarke *'' Aralia frodiniana'' J.Wen *'' Aralia gigantea'' J.Wen *'' Aralia gintungensis'' C.Y.Wu ex K.M.Feng *''

Aralia glabra ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occu ...

'' Matsum. *''

Aralia glabrifoliolata ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occu ...

'' (C.B.Shang) J.Wen *''

Aralia henryi ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occu ...

'' Harms *'' Aralia hiepiana'' J.Wen & Lowry *'' Aralia hispida'' Vent. *'' Aralia humilis'' Cav. *'' Aralia hypoglauca'' (C.J.Qi & T.R.Cao) J.Wen & Y.F.Deng *'' Aralia indonesica'' Doweld *'' Aralia kansuensis'' G.Hoo *'' Aralia kingdon-wardii'' J.Wen, Lowry & Esser *''

Aralia leschenaultii ''Aralia leschenaultii'' is a species of plant in the family Araliaceae. It is found in China, India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. References Aralia, leschenaultii Flora of China Flora of the Indian subcontinent Flora of Myanmar Taxonomy articles ...

'' (DC.) J.Wen *'' Aralia malabarica'' Bedd. *'' Aralia melanocarpa'' (H.Lév.) Lauener *'' Aralia merrillii'' C.B.Shang *'' Aralia mexicana'' (C.B.Shang & X.P.Li) Frodin *''

Aralia montana ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occu ...

'' Blume *''

Aralia nudicaulis ''Aralia nudicaulis'' (commonly wild sarsaparilla,Dickinson, T.; Metsger, G.; Hull, J.; and Dickinson, R. (2004) The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Toronto:Royal Ontario Museum, p. 140. false sarsaparilla, shot bush, small spikenard, ...

'' L. *'' Aralia officinalis'' Z.Z.Wang *'' Aralia parasitica'' (D.Don) Buch.-Ham. ex Otto *'' Aralia plumosa'' H.L.Li *''

Aralia racemosa ''Aralia racemosa'', with common names American spikenard, small spikenard, Indian root, spice berry, spignet, life-of-man, petty morel, is an ornamental plant in the family Araliaceae native to the United States and Canada. It is a herbaceous pl ...

'' L. *'' Aralia regeliana'' Marchal *'' Aralia rex'' (Ekman) J.Wen *'' Aralia scaberula'' G.Hoo *'' Aralia scopulorum'' Brandegee *'' Aralia searelliana'' Dunn *'' Aralia soratensis'' Marchal *'' Aralia spinifolia'' Merr. *''

'' L. *'' Aralia stellata'' (King) J.Wen *'' Aralia stipulata'' Franch. *'' Aralia subcordata'' (Wall. ex G.Don) J.Wen *'' Aralia thomsonii'' Seem. ex C.B.Clarke *'' Aralia tibetana'' G.Hoo *'' Aralia tomentella'' Franch. *'' Aralia undulata'' Hand.-Mazz. *'' Aralia urticifolia'' Blume ex Miq. *''

Aralia verticillata ''Aralia'' , or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials. The genus is native to Asia and the Americas, with most species occu ...

'' (Dunn) J.Wen *'' Aralia vietnamensis'' Ha *'' Aralia wangshanensis'' (W.C.Cheng) Y.F.Deng *'' Aralia warmingiana'' (Marchal) J.Wen *'' Aralia wilsonii'' Harms *'' Aralia yunnanensis'' Franch.

Fossil record

One

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...

endocarp Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. They are found in three main anatomical categories: aggregate fruits, multiple fruits, and simple fruits. Fruitlike structures may develop directly from the seed itself rather th ...

of †''Aralia pusilla'' has been described from a

middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), epoch made up of two Stage (stratigraphy), stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0. ...

stratum In geology and related fields, a stratum (: strata) is a layer of rock or sediment characterized by certain lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by visible surfaces known as ...

of the Fasterholt area near

Silkeborg Silkeborg () is a Denmark, Danish town with a population of 52,571 (1 January 2025).Jutland Jutland (; , ''Jyske Halvø'' or ''Cimbriske Halvø''; , ''Kimbrische Halbinsel'' or ''Jütische Halbinsel'') is a peninsula of Northern Europe that forms the continental portion of Denmark and part of northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). It ...

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

. Several

fruits of ''Aralia rugosa'' and †''Aralia tertiaria'' have been extracted from bore hole samples of the

Middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), epoch made up of two Stage (stratigraphy), stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0. ...

fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin,

West Carpathians The Western Carpathians () are a mountain range and geomorphological province that forms the western part of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountain belt stretches from the Low Beskids range of the Eastern Carpathians along the border of Poland w ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

. Several ''Aralia'' macrofossils have been recovered from the late

Zanclean The Zanclean is the lowest stage or earliest age on the geologic time scale of the Pliocene. It spans the time between 5.332 ± 0.005 Ma (million years ago) and 3.6 ± 0.005 Ma. It is preceded by the Messinian Age of the Miocene Epoch, and f ...

stage of

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch (geology), epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.33 to 2.58Pocapaglia Pocapaglia () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about southeast of Turin and about northeast of Cuneo. As of 1-1-2017, it had a population of 3,311 and an area of .All demographics an ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

.Messian to Zanclean vegetation and climate of Northern and Central Italy by Adele Bertini & Edoardo Martinetto, Bollettino della Societa Paleontologica Italiana, 47 (2), 2008, 105-121. Modena, 11 July 2008.

Notes

References

*Frodin, D. G. and R. Govaerts. 2003. World Checklist and Bibliography of Araliaceae. Kew, UK: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. *Wen, J. 2004. Systematics and biogeography of ''Aralia'' L. sect. ''Dimorphanthus'' (Miq.) Miq. (Araliaceae). ''Cathaya'' 15-16: 1–187.

External links

Sorting ''Aralia'' names
{{Authority control Apiales genera