2. Aralia racemosa L. (American spikenard)

Pl. 218 a; Map 908

Plants perennial herbs, sometimes slightly woody at the base. Aerial stems 60–240 cm long, erect to spreading, often branched, without spines. Leaves 2 or more along each aerial stem, alternate. Leaf blades 30–80 cm long, the 3 primary divisions each pinnately divided into 9–21 leaflets, the leaflets 2–18 cm long, ovate, the margins doubly toothed, green, hairy along the veins when young, sometimes becoming glabrous or nearly so at maturity. Inflorescences at the tip of the aerial stem and sometimes also axillary, panicles or less commonly racemes of often numerous umbels, the branches hairy. Petals 0.8–1.0 mm long, white. Fruits 5–6 mm long, reddish purple to blackish purple. 2n=24. June–August.

Scattered nearly throughout the state but absent from the Unglaciated Plains Division and the southwestern portion of the Glaciated Plains, also absent from most of the Mississippi Lowlands (eastern and southwestern U.S. and adjacent Mexico; Canada). Mesic upland forests, often toward the base of north-facing slopes, moist ledges of bluffs, often along streams.

The aromatic, spicy rootstocks of A. racemosa have been used medicinally for respiratory ailments, rheumatic fever, syphilis, and skin problems (apparently without any medical basis) and are an ingredient in root beer. Use by Native Americans was similar to that of A. nudicaulis (Arnason et al., 1981). The foliage and inflorescences of the species are attractive, but the plants sometimes are considered too large and bushy for most garden situations.